NRLF 


E3D    D77 


PUBLISHED  BY 

A.  G.  WEAVER, 

CHICAGO. 


U04- 


Entered   according  to  Act  of  Congress 

in    the    year   1898, 

By  ADDIE  GUTHRIE  WEAVER, 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress, 
at  Washington,   D.   C, 


preface. 


For  some  years  the  Author  has  been  interested  in  the  history 
of  our  First  Flag  and  its  fair  maker,  Betsy  Ross,  and  fortunately, 
through  a  family  relationship  with  one  of  the  descendants,  be- 
came familiar  with  much  of  the  family  history. 

It  seemed  that  so  beautiful  and  estimable  a  lady,  and  one 
who  played  so  important  a  part  in  those  stirring  events  of  our 
early  history  should  be  better  known  and  appreciated  by  her 
sisters  of  to-day. 

Fitting,  it  seems,  that  while  man  in  defending  our  Flag  has 
accomplished  his  greatest  achievements,  and  won  undying  fame, 
woman  first  fashioned  into  "a  thing  of  beauty"  the  symbol  of  that 
patriotic  devotion. 

To  Mr.  George  Canby  of  Philadelphia,  and  Mrs.  Sophia  Cam- 
pion Guthrie  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  grandson  and  great  grand- 
daughter, respectively,  of  Betsy  Ross,  the  author  is  indebted  for 
family  history  that  has  inspired  this  work,  and  to  them  and  other 
descendants,  this  book  is  affectionately  dedicated  by 

THE  AUTHOR. 


235120 


Stor^  of  <S>ut 


COLONIAL  AND  NATIONAL. 


The  history  of  our  flag  from  its  inception,  in  fact,  the  incep- 
tion itself,  has  been  a  source  of  much  argument  and  great 
diversity  of  opinion.  Many  theories  and  mystifications  have  gone 
forth,  mingled  with  a  few  facts,  giving  just  enough  color  of  truth 
to  make  them  seem  plausible.  It  is  for  the  purpose  of  clearing 
away  the  veil  of  doubt  that  hangs  around  the  origin  of  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  that  this  book  has  been  written. 

The  Continental  Congress  in  1775  was  very  much  disturbed 
over  the  embarrassing  situation  of  the  colonies,  and  after  Wash- 
ington was  appointed  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army,  it 
showed  its  independence  by  appointing  a  committee  composed  of 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Benjamin  Harrison  and  Mr.  Lynch  to  create 
a  colonial  flag  that  would  be  national  in  its  tendency.  They  finally 
decided  on  one  with  thirteen  bars,  alternate  red  and  white,  the 
"King's  Colors"  with  the  crosses  of  St.  Andrew  and  St.  George 
in  a  field  of  blue.  The  cross  of  St.  Andrew  then,  as  now,  was  of 
white,  while  the  cross  of  St.  George  was  of  red.  The  colonies 
still  acknowledged  the  sovereignty  of  England — as  this  flag  at- 
tested— but  united  against  her  tyranny.  This  was  known  as  the 
"flag  of  our  union" — that  is,  the  union  of  the  colonies,  and  was 
not  created  until  after  the  committee  had  been  to  the  camp  at 
Cambridge  and  consulted  with  Washington.  It  was  probably 
made  either  at  the  camp  at  Cambridge  or  in  Boston,  as  it  was 
unfurled  by  Washington  under  the  Charter  Oak  on  January  2, 
1776.  It  received  thirteen  cheers  and  a  salute  of  thirteen  guns. 

7 


THE    STORY    OF   OUR    FLAG: 

It  is  not  known  whether  Samuel  Adams,  the  "Father  of  Lib- 
erty/' was  consulted  in  regard  to  this  flag,  but  it  is  a  well  known 
fact  that  he  was  looking  forward,  even  then,  to  the  independence 
of  the  colonies,  while  Washington,  Franklin  and  the  others  still 
looked  for  justice, — tardy  though  it  might  be, — from  England. 

Two  days  later,  on  the  4th  of  January,  1776,  Washington 
received  the  King's  speech,  and  as  it  happened  to  come  so  near 
to  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  the  new  flag,  with  the  English 
crosses  of  St.  Andrew  and  St.  George,  many  of  the  regulars 
thought  it  meant  submission,  and  the  English  seemed  for  the 
time  to  so  understand  it;  but  our  army  showed  great  indignation 
over  the  King's  speech  to  parliament,  and  burned  all  of  the  copies. 

In  a  letter  of  General  Washington  to  Joseph  Reed,  written 
January  4,  he  says:  "We  are  at  length  favored  with  the  sight  of 
his  majesty's  most  gracious  speech,  breathing  sentiments  of  ten- 
derness and  compassion  for  his  deluded  American  subjects.  The 
speech  I  send  you  (a  volume  of  them  were  sent  out  by  the  Boston 
gentry)  was  farcical  enough  and  gave  great  joy  to  them  without 
knowing  or  intending  it,  for  on  that  day  (the  2nd)  which  gave 
being  to  our  new  army,  but  before  the  proclamation  came  to 
hand,  we  hoisted  the  Union  flag,  in  compliment  to  the  United 
Colonies,  but  behold  it  was  received  at  Boston  as  a  token  of  the 
deep  impression  the  speech  had  made  upon  us  and  as  a  signal  of 
submission.  By  this  time  I  presume  they  begin  to  think  it 
strange  that  we  have  not  made  a  formal  surrender  of  our  lines." 

At  this  time  the  number  and  kinds  of  flags  that  were  in  use 
on  land  and  sea,  were  only  limited  to  the  ingenuity  of  the  state 
and  military  officials.  This  was  very  embarrassing.  On  May 
20,  1776,  Washington  was  requested  to  appear  before  Congress 
on  important  secret  military  business.  Major-General  Putnam, 
according  to  Washington's  letters,  was  left  in  command  at  New 
York  during  his  absence>^rwas  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  1776, 
that  Washington,  accomp'antetl  by  Colonel  George  Ross,  a  mem- 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  9 

her  of  his  staff,  and  by  the  Honorable  Robert  Morris,  the  great 
financier  of  the  revolution,  called  upon  Mrs.  Betsy  Ross,  a  niece 
of  Colonel  Ross.  She  was  a  young  and  beautiful  widow,  only 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  and  known  to  be  expert  at  needle  work. 
They  called  to  engage  her  services  in  preparing  our  first  starry 
flag.  She  lived  in  a  little  house  in  Arch  street,  Philadelphia, 


which  stands  to-day  unchanged,  with  the  exception  of  one  large 
window,  which  has  been  placed  in  the  front.  It  was  here,  in 
this  house,  that  Washington  unfolded  a  paper  on  which  had  been 
rudely  sketched  a  plan  of  a  flag  of  thirteen  stripes,  with  a  blue 
field  dotted  with  thirteen  stars.  They  talked  over  the  plan  of 
this  flag  in  detail,  and  Mrs.  Ross  noticed  that  the  stars  which 
were  sketched  were  six-pointed,  and  suggested  that  they  should 


10  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

have  five  points.  Washington  admitted  that  she  was  correct,  but 
he  preferred  a  star  that  would  not  be  an  exact  copy  of  that  on 
his  coat  of  arms,  and  he  also  thought  that  a  six-pointed  star 
would  be  easier  to  cut.  Mrs.  Ross  liked  the  five-pointed  star,  and 
to  show  that  they  were  easily  cut  she  deftly  folded  a  piece  of 
paper  and  with^pne  clip  of  her  scissors  unfolded  a  perfect  star 
with  five  pointsft/YSee  illustration  showing  the  way  Betsy  Ross 
folded  the  paper*  giving  the  five-pointed  star  which  has  ever  since 
graced  our  country's  banner.  A,  first  fold  of  a  square  piece  of 
paper;  B,  second;  C,  third,  and  D,  fourth  fold.  The  dotted  line 
AA  is  the  clip  of  the  scissors. 

There  is  no  record  that  Congresstopk  any  action  on  the  na- 
tional colors  at  this  session,  —  but  this  first  flag  was  made  by 


Betsy__Ross  at  this  time,  and  in  this  way,  ancfwe 
ington's  letter  of  May  28,  1776,  to  General  Putnam  at  New  York, 
positive  instructions  "to  the  several  colonels  to  hurry  to  get  their 
colors  done."  In  the  orderly  book,  May  31,  1776,  are  these 
words:  "General  Washington  has  written  to  General  Putnam 
desiring  him  in  the  most  pressing  terms,  to  give  positive  orders  to 
all  the  colonels  to  have  colors  immediately  completed  for  their 
respective  regiments."  The  proof  is  positive  that  the  committee 
approved  the  finished  flag  of  Betsy  Ross,  and  she  was  instructed 
to  procure  all  the  bunting  possible  in  Philadelphia  and  make  flags 
for  the  use  of  congress,  Colonel  Ross  furnishing  the  money. 

It  is  easily  understood  how  on  account  of  the  meager  re- 
sources of  Congress  and  the  unsettled  condition  of  affairs  gen- 
erally, together  with  the  fact  that  legislative  action  was  extremely 
slow  and  tedious,  that  Colonel  Ross  should  expedite  matters  by 
defraying  the  expense  of  this  first  order  for  our  national  colors. 
There  is  little,  if  any,  doubt  but  that  Washington  on  December 
24th,  Christmas  Eve,  in  1776,  carried  the  starry  flag  in  making 
that  perilous  trip  through  ice  and  snow  across  the  Delaware, 
leading  his  sturdy,  but  poorly  equipped  troops.  How  inspiring  to 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  II 

look  back  to  that  night  when  the  Massachusetts  fishermen  so 
skilfully  managed  the  boats  that  the  whole  army  was  safely  landed 
and  in  line  of  march  at  four  o'clock  on  Christmas  morning.  The 
story  of.  how  they  plodded  on  through  ice  and  snow,  surprising 
and  defeating  the  Hessians  and  capturing  a  thousand  men  and 
their  ammunition  and  equipments,  is  well  known.  This  was  the 
battle  of  Trenton,  which  changed  the  whole  aspect  of  the  war, 
even  causing  Lord  Cornwallis  to  disembark  and  again  start  in 
pursuit  of  Washington,  whose  cause  he  had  so  lately  declared 
lost.  It  is  fitting"  here  to  speak  of  that  friend  of  Washington. 
Robert  Morris,  one  of  the  committee  that  originated  our  national 
colors,  the  great  patriot  who  after  the  battle  of  Trenton  went 
from  house  to  house,  soliciting  money  from  his  friends  to  clothe 
and  feed  this  glorious  army,  which  had  fought  so  well. 

Congress  was  very  slow  to  act,  and  did  not  seem  able  to 
command  even  the  meager  resources  of  the  different  colonies. 
It  lacked  the-  centralized  government  which  gives  it  such  strength 
to-day.  Considering  the  grave  questions  affecting  the  life  and 
liberty  of  the  people,  it  is  not  strange  that  the  flag  or  any  definite 
action  regarding  it,  was  not  given  prompt  consideration.  To 
indicate  how  slow  Congress  was  to  act  in  regard  to  the  flag, 
we  have  only  to  refer  to  the  Congressional  records,  which  show 
that  the  resolution  for  its  adoption  was  dated  over  one  year  after 
it  was  actually  created,  by  the  committee  of  which  Washington 
was  chief;  that  is  on  June  14,  1777.  However,  a  month  previous 
to  this,  Congress  sent  Betsy  Ross  an  order  on  the  treasury  for 
£14,  I2s.  2d.,  for  flags  for  the  fleet  in  the  Delaware  River,  and 
she  soon  received  an  order  to  make  all  the  government  flags. 
The  first  flag  was  made  of  English  bunting,  exactly  the  same  as 
those  of  to-day,  excepting  that  our  bunting  now  is  of  home  man- 
ufacture. 

There  seems  to  be  no  question  but  that  these  colors,  the 
stars  and  stripes,  were  unofficially  adopted  immediately  after  the 


J2  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

completion  of  the  first  flag,  the  latter  part  of  May,  1776,  and  that 
they  went  into  general  use  at  once,  so  far  as  it  was  practicable 
under  the  conditions  then  existing.  Washington  had  the  first 
flag  created  at  this  time.  It  was  satisfactory,  and  he  immediately 
instructed  General  Putnam  to  have  the  colonels  prepare  their 
colors — the  colors  that  had  just  been  approved,  and  which  we 
know  to  be  our  flag  of  to-day. 

The  first  reference  we  have  of  an  English  description  of  our 
flag  is  at  the  surrender  of  General  Burgoyne,  October  17,  1777. 
when  one  of  the  officers  said:  "The  stars  of  the  new  flag  repre- 
sent a  constellation  of  states." 

Mr.  George  Canby,  an  estimable  gentleman  of  the  old 
school,  and  a  grandson  of  Betsy  Ross,  has  been  tireless  and  in- 
defatigable in  his  researches  on  the  subject  of  our  flag,  and  he 
claims,  as  did  his  brother,  Mr.  William  J.  Canby,  before  him,  that 
the  first  flag  with  stars  and  stripes  went  into  immediate  use  after 
its  inception  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  1776. 

The  Declaration  of  Independence  was  passed  by  Congress  on 
July  4,  1776,  and  some  authorities,  of  w7hom  Admiral  Preble  is 
the  best,  seem  to  infer  that  the  Cambridge  flag,  with  its  English 
crosses,  which  was  unfurled  by  Washington  under  the  Charter 
Oak,  was  still  carried  by  our  armies  until  Congress  took  action 
in  1777.  That  Washington  or  Congress  would  sanction  the  carry- 
ing of  this  flag  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence  seems  ab- 
surd, and  it  is  certainly  against  all  proof,  as  well  as  against  the 
records  of  the  family  whose  ancestor  made  the  first  flag. 

Peak's  portrait  of  Washington  at  the  battle  of  Trenton,  De- 
cember 26  and  27,  1776,  shows  the  Union  Jack  with  the  thir- 
teen stars  in  the  field  of  blue.  Admiral  Preble  says,  this  is  "only 
presumptive  proof"  that  the  stars  were  at  that  time  in  use  on 
our  flag,  but  Titian  R.  Peale,  son  of  the  painter,  says:  "I  visited 
the  Smithsonian  Institute  to  see  the  portrait  of  Washington 
painted  by  my  father  after  the  battle  of  Trenton.  The  flag  rep- 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  13 

resented  has  a  blue  field  with  white  stars  arranged  in  a  circle.  I 
don't  know  that  I  ever  heard  my  father  speak  of  that  flag,  but  the 
trophies  at  Washington's  feet  I  know  he  painted  from  the  flags 
then  captured,  and  which  were  left  with  him  for  the  purpose."' 
He  further  says:  "He  was  always  very  particular  in  the  matters 
of  historic  record  in  his  pictures." 

This  Preble  admits  in  his  book,  but  evidently  thought  that  the 
artist,  Peale,  took  the  flag  as  it  was  then  (1779),  and  not  the 
flag  of  1776,  which  the  writer  claims  was  identically  the  same 
Through  persistent  research  many  facts  have  come  to  light  that 
would  doubtless  have  changed  the  opinion  of  the  late  Admiral 
Preble — facts  that  werejunknown  to  him. 


On  Saturday,  June  14,  1777,  Congress  finally  officially 
adopted  the  flag  of  our  Union  and  independence,  to-wit : 

Resolved,  "That  the  flag  of  the  thirteen  United  States  be  thir- 
teen stripes,  alternate  red  and  white;  that  the  Union  be  thirteen 
stars,  white  in  the  blue  field,  representing  a  new  constellation." 

There  is  not  the  slightest  record  in  any  of  the  mss.  journals  in 
the  library  of  Congress,  or  in  the  original  files  or  in  the  drafts  in 
motions  made  in  the  continental  Congress  of  any  previous  legis- 
lative action  for  the  establishment  of  a  national  flag  for  the  United 
States  of  America,  whose  independence  was  declared  nearly  a 
year  previous.  Even  after  the  official  adoption  of  the  flag  it  was 
not  thoroughly  brought  before  the  people  for  many  months.  All 
of  this  adds  to  the  proof  that  Congress  was  simply  adopting  and 
legalizing  a  flag  that  was  in  general  use.  That  there  was  no  re- 
corded discussion  in  Congress  regarding  the  adoption  of  our  flag, 
was  perfectly  natural,  because  the  star  spangled  banner  came  in 
with  our  independence,  and  at  this  time  (June  14,  1777)  was  simply 
being  officially  acknowledged. 

There  is  some  diversity  of  opinion  as  to  how  the  red,  white 
and  blue  arranged  in  the  stars  and  stripes  came  to  be  thought  of 
as  our  flag. 


14  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

The  flag  of  the  Netherlands,  which  is  of  red,  white  and  blue 
stripes,  had  been  familiar  to  the  pilgrims  while  they  lived  in  Hol- 
land, and  its  three  stripes  of  red,  white  and  blue  were  doubtless 
not  forgotten.  But  it  seems  most  probable  that  the  coat  of  arms 
of  the  Washington  family  furnished  more  than  a  suggestion.  The 
coat  of  arms  of  his  ancestors,  that  had  been  adopted  by  him, 
comprised  the  red,  white  and  blue  and  the  stars-,  and  was  familiar 
to  all  who  were  associated  with  Washington.  He  it  was  who 
brought  the  pencil  drawing,  when,  with  the  others,  he  called  upon 
Mrs.  Ross  to  have  a  suitable  flag  made,  and  as  we  find  no  mention 
in  history,  records  or  diaries  as  to  who  made  the  drawing,  it  seems 
conclusive  that  he  himself  designed  and  drew  the  plan  from  his 
own  coat  of  arms,  which  was  entirely  different  from  England's 
colors  which  had  become  necessarily  distasteful. 

It  seems  fitting  in  this  place  to  write  a  little  history  in  regard 
to  the  Washington  coat  of  arms,  the  earliest  mention  of  which 
was  by  Lawrence  Washington,  worshipful  mayor  of  Northamp- 
ton, England,  in  1532.  In  1540  he  placed  it  upon  the  porch  of  his 
manor  house,  and  on  the  tomb  of  Ann,  his  wife,  in  1564.  At 
the  old  church  at  Brighton,  England,  the  tombs  of  Washington's 
ancestors  are  marked  by  memorial  plates  of  brass  bearing  the 
arms  of  the  family,  which  consisted  of  a  shield  that  bore  the 
stars  and  stripes.  The  Archeological  Society  of  England,-  the 
highest  authority  on  ancient  churches  and  heraldic  matters,  states 
that  from  the  red  and  white  bars,  and  stars  of  this  shield,  and  the 
raven  issuant  from  its  crest  (borne  later  by  General  Washing- 
ton), the  framers  of  the  constitution  took  their  idea  of  the  flag. 

When  General  Washington's  great-grandfather,  Sir  John 
Washington,  came  to  this  country  in  1657,  the  family  shiekTwas 
brought  with  him.  Sir  John  settled  in  Virginia,  and  established 
the  American  line  of  Washingtons.  George  Washington  after- 
wards had  it  emblazoned  upon  the  panels  of  his  carriages,  on  his 
watch  seals,  book  marks,  and  his  dishes  also  bore  the  same 
emblem. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  15 


WASHINGTON    COAT    OF    ARMS. 

The  accompanying  plate  shows  the  form  and  colors  of  the  Coat  of 
Arms  of  the  Washington  family,  back  as  early  as  1300. 

The  name  first  appeared  as  De  Wessynton;  then  Weshyngton,  and, 
finally,  Washington. 

How  appropriately  our  own  beautiful  shield  of  the  United  States 
comes  in  here,  and  why  not?  was  he  not  the  "Father  of  Our  Country"? 
and  what  more  natural  than  that  he  should  have  left  the  imprint  of  his 
life  and  characteristics  in  symbol? 

The  central  figure  is  a  fac-simile  of  his  book  plate. 


16  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

After  the  admission  of  Vermont  and  Kentucky  into  the  Union, 
Congress  passed  an  act  in  1794,  increasing  both  the  stars  and 
stripes  from  thirteen  to  fifteen,  to  take  effect  May,  1795.  It  was 
as  follows: 

"An  act  making  alterations  in  the  flag  of  the  United  States. 
Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  That  from  and  after  the  first  day  of  May, 
one  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  ninety-five,  the  flag  of  the 
United  States  be  fifteen  stripes,  alternate  red  and  white,  and  that 
the  union  be  fifteen  stars,  white  in  a  blue  field. 

" Approved  January   13,   1794." 

This  flag  was  used  for  several  years.  It  flew  at  the  mastheads 
of  our  gallant  ships  and  was  carried  by  our  little  army  in  the  war 
with  England  in  1812.  A  few  years  later  Tennessee,  Ohio,  Louis- 
iana and  Indiana,  now  won  to  civilization  by  hardy  pioneers, 
clamored  for  admittance  into  the  Union.  When  they  were  finally 
admitted  as  states,  another  change  in  the  flag  became  necessary. 
The  sturdy  young  republic  was  advancing  by  leaps  and  bounds  in 
civilization  and  wealth;  its  hardy  sons  pushing  further  west  and 
south  constantly,  reclaiming  from  wild  savages,  to  the  uses  of 
their  own  race,  greater  and  larger  areas,  which  were  bound  to 
be  erected  into  states  and  take  their  places  in  the  family  of  tjie 
original  thirteen.  It  became  manifest  that  legislation  was  neces- 
sary, permanently  defining  the  national  flag,  and  providing  for 
such  changes  as  the  future  development  of  the  country  would  re- 
quire. Congress  rose  to  the  occasion.  A  committee,  with  Hon. 
Peter  Wendover  of  New  York  as  chairman,  was  appointed  to 
frame  a  law,  and  with  very  little  delay  the  committee  reported 
a  measure  fulfilling  every  requirement  then  existing,  and  provid- 
ing for  all  the  future.  The  measure  was  passed  by  congress  and 
went  on  the  statute  books  as  the  law  establishing  the  flag  as  our 
great-grandfathers  of  that  day  knew  it,  and  as  we  know  it  to-day. 
The  law  has  never  been  changed,  and  here  it  is : 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  17 

"An  act  to  establish  the  flag  of  the  United  States. 

"Section  i.  Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  That  from  and  after  the  fourth 
day  of  July  next,  the  flag  of  the  United  States  be  thirteen  hori- 
zontal stripes,  alternate  red  and  white;  that  the  Union  have 
twenty  stars,  white  in  the  blue  field. 

"Sec.  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  on  the  admission  of 
every  new  state  into  the  Union,  one  star  be  added  to  the  union  of 
the  flag,  and  that  such  addition  shall  take  effect  on  the  fourth  of 
July  next  succeeding  such  admission.  Approved  April  4,  1818." 
^The  thirteen  stripes  will  always  represent  the  number  of  the 
"old  thirteen"  whose  patriotism  and  love  of  justice  brought, about 
the  independence  of  America^  The  stars  that  come  into  the  blue 
sky  of  the  flag  will  mark  or  indicate  the  increase  of  the  states 
since  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution.  It  is  interesting  to  note 
that  under  the  stars  and  stripes  Washington,  in  1/93,  laid  the 
corner  stone  of  the  capitol  of  the  United  States,  first  having  per- 
sonally selected  the  site  of  the  building.  It  is  also  interesting  to 
know  that  Washington  did  not  live  to  see  the  capitol  completed, 
but  died  before  the  seat  of  government  was  moved  to  Washing- 
ton in  1800.  The  main  capitol  building  was  not  completed  till 
1811.  It  is  also  a  matter  of  historical  interest  that  the  president's 
home,  now  called  the  White  House,  was  completed  during  the 
life  of  Washington,  and  it  is  an  authenticated  fact  that  he  and 
his  wife  inspected  the  house  in  all  its  parts  only  a  few  days  be- 
fore his  death.  The  president's  house  was  practically  destroyed 
by  the  British  in  1814;  the  walls  alone  remained  intact,  but  the 
stone  was  so  discolored  that  when  the  building  was  reconstructed, 
it  had  to  be  painted,  and  from  this  came  the  name  of  the  "White 
House." 

The  large  picture  of  Washington,  by  Stewart,  which  is  now  in 
the  east  room,  at  the  time  of  the  bombardment  by  the  British, 
was  taken  out  of  its  frame  by  Mrs.  Dolly  Madison,  wife  of  the 
president,  and  sent  to  a  secure  place  across  the  river. 
2 


18  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

This  flag  of  forty-five  stars,  this  flag  of  our  country,  is  our 
inspiration.  It  kindles  in  our  hearts  patriotic  feelings,  it  carries 
our  thoughts  and  our  minds  forward  in  the  cause  of  liberty  and 
right.  On  sea  and  on  land,  wherever  the  star  spangled  banner 
waves,  it  thrills  the  heart  of  every  true  American  with  pride.  It 
recalls  the  memories  of  battles  bravely  fought.  It  recalls  the  vic- 
tories of  Trenton  and  Princeton,  it  recalls  the  victories  of  Gettys- 
burg and  Appomattox.  We  see  the  flag  as  first  carried  by  Paul 
Jones  across  the  sea;  we  see  the  flag  as  carried  by  Commodore 
Perry  on  Lake  Erie;  we  see  the  flag  as  carried  by  Farragut  at 
New  Orleans;  we  see  Admiral  Dewey  through  smoke  and  fire 
hoisting  the  flag  in  the  Philippines.  This  same  flag  was  carried 
to  victory  by  Admirals  Sampson  and  Schley  in  Cuba.  //This  flag 
recalls  the  many  battles  bravely  fought  and  grandly  won.  It 
^-symbolizes  the  principles  of  human  progress  and  human  liberty. 
The  stars  represent  the  unity  and  harmony  of  our  states.  They 
the  constellation  of  our  country.  Their  luster  reflects  to 
every  nation  of  the  world.  The  flag  of  1776,  the  old  thirteen, 
has  grown  to  be  one  of  tlie^  great  flags  of  the  earth.  Its  stars 
reach  from  ocean  to  ocean.)  We  see  it  leading  the  armies  of 
Washington  and  Greene,  ~of  Grant  and  Sherman  and  Sheridan, 
and  of  Miles,  Shafter  and  Merritt. 

This  is  the  flag  of  the  "dawn's  early  light"  that  was  immortal- 
ized by  Francis  Scott  Key — "The  Star  Spangled  Banner." 

General  Grant  once  said,  "No  one  is  great  enough  to  write  his 
name  on  the  flag." 

A  century  under  the  stars  and  stripes  has  been  the  greatest 
century  of  progress  in  the  history  of  the  world.  No  other  nation 
that  has  ever  existed  has  carried  forward  such  a  banner.  Its 
colors  were  taken  from  various  sources  and  brought  into  one 
harmonious  combination,  and  it  "waves  over  a  country  which 
unites  all  nationalities  and  all  races,  and  in  the  end  brings  about 
a  homogeneous  population,  representing  the  highest  type  of 


x 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  19 

civilization."  It  is  not  strange  that  this  flag  of  Washington,  of 
Hamilton,  of  Adams,  of  Jefferson;  this  flag  of  Jackson,  of  Web- 
ster, of  Clay,  this  flag  of  Lincoln,  of  Grant  and  of  McKinley 
should  exert  such  world-wide  influence.  It  holds  a  unique  place 
in  the  nations  of  the  world.  It  has  spread  knowledge  and  faith 
and  hope  among  all  classes.  It  means  liberty  with  justice.  Its 
international  influence  places  it  in  the  first  rank.  It  twines  itself 
among  the  flags  of  other  nations,  not  for  destruction  or  war, 
but  for  friendship  and  progress  in  the  cause  of  humanity.  In 
the  councils  of  peace;  in  the  conquests  of  war;  in  everything 
that  pertains  to  government,  in  everything  that  pertains  to  the 
advancement  of  humanity,  it  calls  forth  th'e  admiration  of  man- 
kind. Under  its  influence  the  arts  and  sciences  have  been  fos- 
tered, commerce  has  expanded  and  education  has  been  made 
universal.  It  waves  for  the  right  and  the  harbors  of  the  globe 
will  salute  this  banner  as  a  harbinger  of  progress  and  peace. 

The  youngest  nation  has  the  oldest  flag. 

It  is  of  historical  interest  that  our  flag  is  older  than  the  pres- 
ent flag  of  Great  Britain,  which  was  adopted  in  1801,  and  it  is 
nine  years  older  than  the  flag  of  Spain,  which  was  adopted  in 
1785.  The  French  tricolor  was  decreed  in  1794;  then  comes  the 
flag  of  Portugal  in  1830;  then  the  Italian  tricolor  in  1848;  then 
the  flags  of  the  old  empires  of  China  and  Japan,  and  of  .the 
empire  of  Germany,  which  represents  the  sovereignty  of  fourteen 
distinct  states  established  in  1870. 

X 


20  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

Prior  to  the  Revolution,  and  indeed  during  the  evolution  of 
a  nation  through  the  crucible  of  war,  separate  and  distinct  flags 
were  popular  with  the  colonists.  Nearly  every  colony  had  at 
least  one.  They  were  not  abandoned  until  it  became  apparent  the 
colonies  were  never  again  to  be  colonies,  but  to  form  a  nation 
with  one  flag,  one  set  of  institutions  and  laws,  a  fact  which  in- 
spired the  visit  of  Washington  to  Betsy  Ross  as  told  in  the 
foreging  papers.  Many  of  the  colonial  flags  were  interesting. 

GROUP  OF  COLONIAL  FLAGS,  NO.  i. 

The  two  upper  flags  of  this  group  represent  those  used  at 
Bunker  Hill  July  18,  17/5,  and  bore 'these  inscriptions:  On  one 
side,  "An  Appeal  to  Heaven,"  and  on  the  other,  "Qui  Transtulit 
Sustinet" — He  who  transported  will  sustain. 

These  were  beautiful  flags,  and  research  shows  that  both 
colors  were  used. 

Trumbull  gives  the  red  in  his  celebrated  painting  in  thecapitol 
at  Washington,  and  other  authentic  accounts  show  that  the  blue 
flag  was  carried  also — the  color  being  the  only  difference  in  the 
two. 

THE  PINE  TREE  FLAG. 

The  pine  tree  flag  which  was  a  favorite  with  the  officers  of  the 
American  privateers,  had  a  white  field  with  a  green  pine  tree  in 
the  middle  and  bore  the  motto,  "An  appeal  to'  heaven." 

This  flag  was  officially  endorsed  by  the  Massachusetts  coun- 
cil, which  in  April,  1776,  passed  a  series  of  resolutions  providing 
for  the  regulation  of  the  sea  service,  among  which  was  the  fol- 
lowing: 

Resolved,  That  the  uniform  of  the  officers  be  green  and 
white,  and  that  they  furnish  themselves  accordingly,  and  that  the 
colors  be  a  white  flag  with  a  green  pine  tree  and  the  inscription, 
"An  appeal  to  heaven." — Harper's  Round  Table. 


COPYRIGHT  1898,     BY   AODIE   G.    WEAVER. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  21 

The  striped  Continental  flag  opposite  the  pine  tree  flag  was  of 
red  and  white  stripes  without  a  field. 

THE  RATTLESNAKE  FLAG. 

The  device  of  a  rattlesnake  was  popular  among  the  colonists, 
and  its  origin  as  an  American  emblem  is  a  curious  feature  in 
our  national  history. 

It  has  been  stated,  that  its  use  grew  out  of  a  humorous  sug- 
gestion made  by  a  writer  in  Franklin's  paper — the  Pennsylvania 
Gazette — that,  in  return  for  the  wrongs  which  England  was  forc- 
ing upon  the  colonists,  a  cargo  of  rattlesnakes  should  be  sent  to 
the  mother  country  and  "distributed  i-n  St.  James'  Park,  Spring 
Garden  and  other  places  of  pleasure." 

Colonel  Gadsden,  one  of  the  marine  committee,  presented  to 
Congress,  on  the  8th  of  February,  1776,  "an  elegant  standard, 
such  as  is  to  be  used  by  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  American 
navy;  being  a  yellow  flag  with  a  representation  of  a  rattlesnake 
coiled  for  attack. 


WASHINGTON  LIFE  GUARD  FLAG. 

There  is  probably  no  more  interesting  revolutionary  flag  than 
this.  The  Washington  Life  Guard  was  organized  in  1776,  soon 
after  the  siege  of  Boston,  while  the  American  army  was  encamped 
'near  New  York. 

It  was  said  to  have  been  in  the  museum  at  Alexandria,  Va., 
which  was  burned  soon  after  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  and  nearly 
everything  lost.  It  was  of  white  silk  with  the  design  painted 
on  it. 

The  uniform  of  the  guard  was  as  follows:  blue  coat  with 
white  facings,  white  waistcoat  and  breeches,  with  blue  half  gait- 
ers, a  cocked  hat  and  white  plume. 


22  THE   STORY    OF   OUR    FLAG: 

THE    GRAND    UNION    FLAG. 

These  were  the  colors  selected  by  FrankKn,  Harrison  and 
Lynch,  and  unfurled  by  Washington  under  the  Charter  Oak, 
January  2,  1776,  and  hereafter  described. 

The  flag  of  the  Richmond  Rifles  follows  with  the  one  used  at 
Moultrie. 

The  latter  was  of  blue  with  white  crescent  in  the  dexter  cornier 
and  was  used  by  Colonel  Moultrie,  September  13,  1775,  when  he 
received  orders  from  the  Council  of  Safety  for  taking  Fort  John- 
son on  James  Island,  South  Carolina. 

In  the  early  years  of  the  Revolution,  a  number  of  emblems 
were  in  use  which  became  famous.  The  standard  on  the  southeast 
bastion  of  Fort  Sullivan  (or  Moultrie,  as  it  was  afterward  named), 
on  June  28,  1776,  by  Colonel  Moultrie,  was  a  blue  flag  with  a 
white  crescent  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  and  the  word  "Lib- 
erty" in  white  letters  emblazoned  upon  it. 

This  was  the  flag  that  fell  outside  the  fort  and  was  secured  by 
Sergeant  Jasper,  who  leaped  the  parapet,  walked  the  whole  length 
of  the  fort,  seized* the  flag,  fastened  it  to. a  sponge  staff  and  in 
sight  of  the  whole  British  fleet  and  in  the  midst  of  a  perfect  hail 
of  bullets  planted  it  firmly  upon  the  bastion.  The  next  day 
Governor  Rutledge  visited  the  fort  and  rewarded  him  by  giving 
him  his  sword. 

Then  comes  the  flag  of  White  Plains,  October  28,  1776,  with 
little  historical  importance. 

The  flag  made  by  Betsy  Ross,  under  the  direction  of  General 
Washington,  Robert  Morris,  and  Colonel  George  Ross,  consisted 
of  thirteen  bars,  alternate  red  and  white,  with  a  circle  of  thirteen 
stars  in  the  field  of  blue. 


COLONIAL   AND   NATIONAL.  23 


COUNT  PULASKFS  FLAG. 

The  Moravian  sisters  of  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania,  gave  to 
Count  Pulaski's  corps,  which  he  had  previously  organized  at 
Baltimore  and  which  was  called  "Pulaski's  Legion,"  a  beautiful 
crimson  silk  banner,  embroidered  in  yellow  silk  and  sent  it'ivith 
their  blessing.  Pulaski  was  at  this  time  suffering  from  a  wound, 
and  was  on  a  visit  to  Lafayette,  whose  headquarters  were  at 
Bethlehem.  Count  Pulaski  was  a  Polish  patriot,  born  March  4, 
1747.  After  having  bravely  fought  for  Poland  with  his  father 
and  brothers  until  the  Polish  cause  became  hopeless,  he  came  to 
America,  arriving  in  Philadelphia  in  1777.  He  entered  the  army 
as  a  volunteer,  but  performing  such  brave  service  at  Brandywine, 
he  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  cavalry  with  rank  of  briga- 
dier-general. In  1778  Congress  gave  him  leave  to  raise  a  body  of 
men  under  his  own  command.  Longfellow  has  most  beautifully 
described  the  presentation  of  the  flag  in  verse.  Pulaski  bore 
this  flag  to  victory  through  many  battles  until  he  fell  mortally 
wounded  at  Savannah,  October  14,  1779.  The  banner  was  saved 
by  his  first  lieutenant,  who  received  fourteen  wounds,  and  deliv- 
ered it  to  Captain  Bentalon,  who  on  retiring  from  the  army,  took 
it  home  to  Baltimore.  It  was  carried  in  the  procession  which 
welcomed  Lafayette  in  1824,  and  was  then  deposited  in  the  Peale 
Museum.  In  1844  Mr.  Edmund  Peale  presented  it  to  the  His- 
torical Society  of  Maryland,  where  it  is  now  preserved  in  a  glass 
case.  These  are  interesting  historical  facts. 

Flag  of  red  and  blue  bars  with  serpent  stretched  across  and 
words,  "Don't  Tread  on  Me."  \ 

Another  flag  of  white,  with  blue  bands  top  and  bottom  and  a 
pine  tree  in  center,  with  the  inscriptions:  Liberty  Tree  and  An 
Appeal  to  Heaven^ 


24  THE    STORY    OF   OUR    FLAG: 


THE  "DON'T  TREAD  ON  ME"  FLAG. 

Another  use  of  the  rattlesnake  was  upon  a  ground  of  thir- 
teen horizontal  bars  alternate  red  and  white,  the  snake  ex- 
tending diagonally  across  the  stripes,  and  the  lower  white  stripes 
bearing  the  motto — "Don't  Tread  on  Me."  The  snake  was 
always  represented  as  having  thirteen  rattles,  and  the  number 
thirteen  seems  constantly  to  have  been  kept  in  mind.  Thius, 
thirteen  vessels  are  ordered  to  be  built;  thirteen  stripes  are 
placed  on  the  flag;  in  one  design  thirteen  arrows  are  grasped 
in  a  mailed  hand;  and  in  a  later  one  thirteen  arrows  are  in  the 
talons  of  an  eagle. 

ANOTHER  "DON'T  TREAD  ON  ME"  FLAG. 

One  of  the  favorite  flags  also  was  of  white  with  a  pine  tree 
in  the  center.  The  words  at  the  top  were  "An  Appeal  to  God," 
and  underneath  the  snake  were  the  words,  "Don't  Tread  on  Me." 
Several  of  the  companies  of  minute  men  adopted  a  similar  flag, 
giving  the  name  of  their  company  with  the  motto  "Liberty  or 
Death."  This  flag  is  familiar  to  the  public  as  the  annual  cele- 
brations bring  out  descriptions  of  it  in  the  press. 

THE  PRESIDENT'S  FLAG. 

Within  the  last  few  years  special  flags  have  been  designed  for 
the  President,  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  and  Secretary  of  War. 
The  President's  flag  is  a  very  beautiful  blue  banner,  in  the  cen- 
ter of  which  is  a  spread  eagle  bearing  the  United  States  shield 
on  its  breast,  with  the  thirteen  stars  in  a  half  circle  overhead. 
It  is  flown  at  the  main  mast-head  of  naval  vessels  while  the 
President  remains  on  board,  and  on  being  hoisted  it  is  the  signal 
for  the  firing  of  the  President's  salute. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  25 

COLONIAL  AND  PATRIOTIC  MUSIC. 

The  colonial  music  was  mostly  borrowed  and  adapted  to  the 
occasion.  The  Pilgrims  had  more  important  duties  to  perform 
and  in  those  years  of  stirring  events  no  one  was  in  a  mood  to 
write  music. 

The  first  song  to  be  used  was  that  old  and  familiar  one, 
"Yankee  Doodle."  It  made  a  powerful  rallying  cry  in  call- 
ing to  arms  against  England.  It  is  so  old  that  it  is  impossible 
to  decide  just  where  the  term  came  from. 

It  has  been  traced  back  to  Greece — "lankhe  Doule,"  mean- 
ing "Rejoice,  O  Slave,"  and  to  the  Chinese — "Yong  Kee," 
meaning  "Flag  of  the  Ocean."  It  is  said  the  Persians  called 
Americans  "Yanki  Doon'iah,"  "Inhabitants  of  the  New  World." 
The  Indians  too,  come  in  for  their  share  of  the  credit  of  origi- 
nating the  term,  as  the  Cherokee  word  "Eankke,"  which  means 
"coward"  and  "slave,"  was  often  bestowed  upon  the  inhabi- 
tants of  New  England. 

At  the  time  of  the  uprising  against  Charles  the  First,  Oliver 
Cromwell  rode  into  Oxford,  on  an  -insignificant  little  horse, 
wearing  a  single  plume  in  a  knot  called  a  "macaroni."  The 
song  was  sung  derisively  by  the  cavaliers  at  that  time.  The 
tune  is  said  to  have  come  from  Spain  or  France,  there  being 
several  versions  of  the  words. 

It  came  into  play  when  our  ancestors  flocked  into  Ticon- 
deroga  in  answer  to  the  call  of  Abercrombie.  At  that  early 
day  no  one  refused,  but  all  answered  the  call  and  came  equipped 
as  best  they  could,  but  hardly  any  two  alike,  and  to  the  trained 
English  regulars  must  have  presented  a  ridiculous  appearance. 
Dr.  Shamburg  changed  the  words  of  the  old  satire  to  fit  the 
new  occasion.  But  in  less  than  a  year  it  was  turned  by  the 
Yankees  against  the  English  in  the  form  of  a  rallying  cry  and 
possessed  new  meaning. 


26  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

History  had  emphasized  it,  and  with  the  accompaniment  of 
the  shrill  pipe  and  half  worn  drum  calling  the  simple  cottagers 
together,  it  must  have  aroused  all  their  noble  and  sturdy  pat- 
riotism. 

Who  that  has  viewed  that  stirring  picture  in  the  Corcoran 
Art  Gallery  at  Washington,  "Yankee  Doodle,"  could  fail  to 
catch  the  inspiration  of  the  scene.  The  old  man  with  his  thin 
grey  locks,  but  head  erect  and  face  glowing  with  enthusiasm 
as  he  keeps  time  to  the  old  tune,  followed  by  the  small  boy 
with  his  drum.  One  scarcely  knows  whether  humor  or  pathos 
predominates;  but  certain  we  are  that  all  alike  stepped  to  its 
chords;  it  found  an  answering  echo  in  each  heart  and  led  them 

on  to  glory. 

YANKEE    DOODLE. 

Father  and  I  went  down  to  camp. 

Along  with  Captain  Goodwin, 
And  there  we  saw  the  men  and  boys 

As  thick  as  hasty  pudding. 

CHORUS. 

Yankee  Doodle,  keep  it  up, 

Yankee  doodle  dandy; 
Mind  the  music  and  the  step. 

And  with  the  girls  be  handy. 

And  there  was   Captain  Washing 

Upon  a  slapping  stallion. 
A  giving  orders  to  his  men, 

I  guess  there  was  a  million. — Cho. 

And  then  the  feathers  on  his  hat, 

They  looked  so  tarnal  finey, 
I  wanted  peskily  to  get 

To  give  to  my  Jemima. — Cho. 

And  there  they  had  a  swamping  gun, 

As  big  as  a  log  of  maple, 
On  a  duced  little  cart, 

A  load  for  father's  cattle. — Cho. 


:ton. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  . 

And  every  time  they  fired  it  off 

It  took  a  horn  of  powder; 
It  made  a  noise  like  father's  gun, 

Only  a  nation  louder. — Cho. 

I  went  as  near  to  it  myself 

As  Jacob's  underpinin', 
And    father    went    as    near    again, 

I  th't  the  duce  was  in  him. — Cho. 

It   scared   me   so,    I    ran   the    streets, 

Nor  stopped  as  I  remember, 
Till    I    got   home   and   safely  locked 

In  granny's  little  chamber. — Cho. 

And  there   I   see  a  little  keg, 
Its  heads  were  made  of  leather; 

They  knocked  upon  it  with  little  sticks 
To  call  the  folks  together.— Cho. 

And  then  they'd  fife  away  like  fun 

And  play  on  corn-stalk  fiddles; 
And  some  had  ribbons  red  as  blood 

All  bound  around  their  middles. — Cho. 

The  troopers,  too,  would  gallop  up, 

And  fire  right  in  our  faces; 
It  scared  me  almost  to  death 

To  see  them  run  such  races. — Cho. 

Uncle   Sam  came  there  to  change 
Some  pancakes   and  some   onions, 

For  'lasses  cake  to  carry  home 
To   give  his  wife  and  young  ones. — Cho. 

But  I  can't  tell  you  half  I  see, 
They  keep  up  such  a  smother: 

So  I  took  off  my  hat,  made  a  bow, 
And  scampered  off  to  mother." — Cho. 


28 


THE    STORY    OF   OUR    FLAG: 


AMERICA. 

Rev.  Samuel  Francis  Smith  was  born  in  Boston  October  21, 
1808,  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  '29  from  Harvard  University. 
He  enjoyed  the  honor  of  having  for  his  classmate  Oliver  Wen- 
dell Holmes,  in  whose  beautiful  poem,  entitled  "The  Boys," 
the  name  of  the  author  of  "America"  is  affectionately  men- 
tioned. 

And  there's  a  nice  youngster  of  excellent  pith; 
Fate  tried  to  conceal  him  by  naming  him  Smith, 
But  he  shouted  a  song  for  the  brave  and  the  free, 
Just  read  on  his  medal — "My  Country  of  Thee"! 

"America"  was  written  in  1832,  the  tune  being  the  old  one 
of  "God  Save  the  Queen,"  and  first  rendered  on  the  4th  of 
July  of  the  same  year  by  the  children  of  Park  St.  Church,  Boston. 


AMERICA. 


My   country,  'tis  of  thee, 
Sweet  land  of  liberty, 

Of  thee  I  sing! 
Land  where  my  fathers  died, 
Land  of  the  pilgrims'  pride, 
From  every  mountain  side 

Let    freedom    ring. 

My  native  country,   thee — 
Land  of  the  noble  free, 

Thy   name   I   love. 
I  love  thy  rocks  and  rills, 
Thy  woods  and  templed  hills. 
My  heart  with  rapture  thrills 

Like  that  above. 


Let  music  swell  the  breeze 
And  ring  from  all  the  trees 

Sweet  Freedom's  song! 
Let  mortal  tongues  awake, 
Let  all  that  breathe  partake, 
Let  rocks  their  silence  break, 

The  sound  prolong. 

Our  fathers'   God,  to  thee, 
Author  of  Liberty! 

To   Thee   we   sing: 
Long  may  our  land  be  bright 
With   freedom's  holy  light, 
Protect  us  by  Thy  might, 

Great  God,  our  king! 


Peace  follows  rofyere  it  finbs  tfye  016  Cfytrteen,  tfye  nucleus 
arounb  tpfyicfy  tfye  ot^er  stars  ^ape  gatfyereb  in  tt^eir  $Iory. 

— Letitia  Green  Stevenson, 

Honorary   Vice  President  General  National  Society,  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution. 


DEDICATED 

To  THE 


JON5,DAUGHT[RS  ;-  CHILDREN 
AMERICAN    DEVOLUTION 


Ores. 


— 


-----  ^    m   - 


1.  Flag  of       the     free,        we      hail    thee  with  pride.  Float     thou     in      free  -  dom 

2.  We'll  work  for      thy     glo    -  ry  for  -  ev   -   er    and    aye,     We'll  eel     -     e  -  brate   ov     -     er 


oer 

that 


fe N , 


S       N         «  N 

rjT=jj-      f     =^^1^4,-—^- 


all        the     land   wide;  Em    -    blem     of     pow'r      wher    -     e'er      thou    art     seen, 

dear    -    ly  bought  day;        Thy  folds       float  -  ing     o'er        us     in        tri  -  umph  were  seen, 


Yet 
So 


still       we      are     true        to      The     Old       Thir  -  teen.       Our      fa   -  ..thers  who  fought     a 
val   -    iant  -  ly      won        by      The     Old       Thir  -  teen.     We'll      ral     -     ly        a  -  round    thee 


free 
from 


coun   -   try     to   make.         Who       suf  -  fered  aud   died      for   sweet       lib   -   er  -  ty's   sake.      What 
near       and  from  far,  Our      stand  -  ard   for  •  ev     -    er      in        peace     or       in     war,          All 


I    I  ; 

-=-i* 


r~^cm-j^_-s  J_    J 


joy       had  been  theirs  had   they       on   -     ly   fore-seen  How      vast       we  should  grow  from  The 

na  -   tions   sa  -  lute   thee,    thy    stars'    might-y  sheen,          Full     splen  -   dor  thou     art       of     The 


u 


Old  Thir  -   teen — 

Old  Thir  -  teen. 


Then 


For 
hail 


ty   -    five      stars        now   shine    in     thy    blue, 
we       our    em-blem,  each  daugh-ter  and     son, 





For 
Hon 


five  states       to  thee      will      be      true —      As   he     •     roes      of       old   keep  their 

the     vie   -   fry    tth;y    fair      folds   have   won;     Tho'  mul     -     ti  -  plied  stars  float    in 

-        -  -f (• * 9 •- 

Jrfrr-  ^~^7^E=-~t~ 

+r±       —^ — u— 


mem 
free 


o 
dom 


IF*^-*- 

-    ry    green,     Who    marched   with     the     flag         of      The     Old          Thir  -  teen, 
se  -  rene.          En  -  shrined       in       our    hearts      is       The     Old          Thir  -  teen. 


THE   STORY    OF   OUR    FLAG: 


STARS  ON  THE  FLAG. 

The  Home  Magazine  contains  the  following  beautiful  sug- 
gestion regarding  the  placing  of  the  stars  on  the  flag: 

Number  i  is  the  field  of  our  first  stars  and  stripes  made  by 
Betsy  Ross. 

Number  2  represents  that  field  of  flag  of  1814  which  inspired 
the  "Star  Spangled  Banner." 

Number  3  the  field  of  1818  designed  by  Capt.  S.  C.  Reid. 

Number  4,  field  of  our  present  flag. 

Although  there  is  no  law  saying  who  shall  arrange  the  stars 
on  our  flag,  or  how  they  shall  be  arranged,  it  is  customary  for 
the  changes  to  be  made  in  the  war  department  when  new  states 
have  been  admitted  to  the  Union. 


The  incongruous  variations  in  figures  A,  B,  C,  which  are 
reproductions  of  unions  taken  from  new  flags,  made  by  dif- 
ferent manufacturers,  would  not  exist  if  there  was  a  law  fix- 
ing the  arrangement  of  the  stars. 


.A. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  33 

It  is  believed  by  many  that  the  stars  on  our  flag  should  be 
arranged  into  a  permanent  and  symmetrical  form,  fixed  by  law, 
instead  of  the  present  changeable  and  uncertain  form,  which  is 
subject  in  a  great  measure,  to  the  caprice  or  convenience  of  the 
flag  maker.  It  is  not  generally  known  that  among  the  many 
flags  in  use  in  our  country  to-day,  there  is  an  utter  lack  of  uni- 
formity in  the  arrangement  of  the  stars. 

In  the  selection  of  a  form,  three  different  things  should  be 
considered — its  historical  significance,  symmetry,  and  adaptabil- 
ity. The  stars  should  be  so  arranged  that  it  will  not  be  neces- 
sary to  make  any  noticeable  change  when  new  ones  are  added. 
The  stars  should  always  remain  equal  in  size,  representing  the 
equality  of  the  states. 


In  the  form  which  is  submitted,  No.  8,  with  the  group  of  thir- 
teen stars  in  the  center,  representing  the  thirteen  original  states, 
they  are  arranged  in  exactly  the  same  form  as  they  ap- 
pear on  the  great  seal  of  the  United  States.  The  circle  contain- 
ing twenty-three  stars,  represents  the  states  which  were  admitted 
to  the  Union  up  to  the  close  of  the  civil  war.  These  two  fea- 
tures are  symbolic  of  the  two  great  events  in  the  nation's  his- 
tory— the  one  which  brought  our  flag  into  existence,  and  the 
other  which  made  its  life  permanent  by  welding  the  sisterhood 
of  states  into  a  perfect  and  indestructible  union.  The  circle  is 
also  symbolic  of  unity,  peace,  and  preservation. 
3 


34  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

The  outside  circle  of  nine  stars,  represents  the  states  which 
have  been  added  to  the  Union  since  the  civil  war.  New  stars 
can  be  added  to  this  circle  without  changing  the  symmetry  of 
the  arrangement,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  illustra- 
tion. As  this  circle  will  always  remain  an  open  one,  there  will 
always  be  room  for  one  more  star,  and  it  is  thus  significant 
of  progression. 

One  great  advantage  in  this  form  is,  that  it  is  suggestive 
of  a  constellation,  and  thus  carries  out,  as  far  as  practicable, 
the  idea  of  the  framers  of  the  resolution  of  1777  in  establishing 
the  flag. 

John  F.  Earhart  is  the  author  of  the  above  description  of  the 
different  forms  of  flags. 

THE  LIBERTY  CAP. 

The  historians  who  have  searched  the  archives  of  ancient 
and  medieval  times  tell  us  that  this  has  been  a  symbol  of  liberty 
since  the  Phrygians  made  the  conquest  of  the  eastern  part  of 
Asia  Minor. 

After  the  conquest  they  stamped  it  on  their  coins,  and  to 
distinguish  themselves  from  the  primitive  peoples  they  used  the 
liberty  cap  as  a  head  dress.  The  Romans  used  a  small  red  cap 
called  a  "pileus,"  which  they  placed  on  the  head  of  a  slave  in 
making  him  free,  and  when  Caesar  was  murdered  a  Phrygian 
cap  was  carried  through  the  streets  of  Rome  proclaiming  the 
liberty  of  the  people.  The  liberty  cap  of  the  English  is  blue 
with  a  white  border. 

It  remained  for  the  United  States  to  adopt  the  British  cap, 
adding  to  it  the  crescent  of  thirteen  stars.  Generals  Lee  and 
Schuyler,  with  the  Philadelphia  Light  Horse  troop,  adopted  it 
in  1775.  This  is  the  famous  troop  that  escorted  Washington 
to  New  York. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  35 

It  is  most  familiar  to  us  as  seen  on  our  coins,  on  which  it 
was  first  used  after  the  Revolution  as  a  symbol  of  freedom. 

Edward  Everett  Hale,  in  one  of  his  impressive  orations, 
says:  "The  starry  banner  speaks  for  itself;  its  mute  eloquence 
needs  no  aid  to  interpret  its  significance.  Fidelity  to  the  Union 
blazes  from  its  stars ;  allegiance  to  the  government  beneath  which 
we  live  is  wrapped  in  its  folds." 

The  Stars  and  Stripes  was  officially  first  unfolded  over  Ft. 
Schuyler,  a  military  port  in  New  York  state,  now  the  city  of 
Rome,  Oneida  county.  It  was  first  saluted  on  the  sea  by  a 
foreign  power,  when  floating  from  the  masthead  of  the  Ranger, 
Capt.  Paul  Jones  commanding,  at  Quiberon  Bay,  France,  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1778.  The  salute  was  given  by  Admiral  La  Motte, 
representing  the  French  government. 

^The  first  vessel  over  which  the  Union  flag  floated  was  the 
ship  Ranger,  built  at  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  whose  gal- 
lant commander  was  the  famous  Paul  Jones. 

Its  first  trip  around  the  world  was  on  the  ship  Columbia, 
which  left  Boston  September  30,  1787,  commanded  by  Cap- 
tains Ke^iclrick  and  Gray.  It  was  three  years  then  in  circling 
the  globe.  To-day  it  waves  in  every  clime,  on  every  sea. 

It  is  pleasing  to  note  how  Franklin,  when  minister  to 
France,  secured  the  ship  Doria  from  the  French  and  gave  to 
Paul  Jones  the  command,  who  immediately  renamed  the  old 
ship  "Bon  homme  Richard,"  in  honor  of  Franklin. 

ORIGIN  OF  "OLD  GLORY." 

The  term  Old  Glory  is  said  to  have  been  originated  by  an 
old  sailor — Stephen  Driver. 

While  upon  the  seas  he  performed  an  act  of  bravery  for 
which  he  was  rewarded  by  the  gift  of  an  American  flag,  where- 
upon he  pledged  its  givers  to  always  defend  it  faithfully. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war  he  was  living  in  Nashville, 
Tenn. 


36  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

In  order  to  keep  the  flag  safely  he  concealed  it  in  a  bed- 
quilt  under  which  he  slept.  To  the  enemies  of  the  Union  he 
declared  that  Old  Glory  would  yet  float  from  the  staff  of  the 
Tennessee  state  house,  and  sure  enough  when  Nashville  fell  into 
the  hands  of  Gen.  Buell  he  secured  the  flag  from  its  hiding  place 
and  hoisted  it  to  a  more  fitting  position  on  the  state  house — 
thus  his  nick-name  for  it  became  popular. 

JOHN  JAY  AT  MOUNT  KISCO,  JULY  4,  1861. 

He  said,  "Swear  anew  and  teach  the  oath  to  our  children, 
that  with  God's  help  the  American  Republic  shall  stand  un- 
moved though  all  the  powers  of  piracy  and  European  jealousy 
should  combine  to  overthrow  it.  That  we  shall  have  in  the  fu- 
ture as  we  have  had  in  the  past,  one  country,  one  constitution, 
one  destiny;  and  that  when  we  shall  have  passed  from  earth, 
and  the  acts  of  to-day  shall  be  matters  of  history,  and  the  dark 
power  which  sought  our  overthrow  shall  have  been  overthrown, 
our  sons  may  gather  strength  from  our  example  in  every  con- 
test with  despotism  that  time  may  have  in  store  to  try  their 
virtue,  and  that  they  may  rally  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes  with 
our  old  time  war  cry, 
"  'Liberty  and  Union,  now  and  forever,  one  and  inseparable.'  " 

UNCLE  SAM. 

This  term  originated  at  the  time  of  our  war  with  England  in 
1812.  Provisions  were  purchased  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  the  agent 
was  Elbert  Anderson,  the  work  being  superintended  by  Ebe- 
nezer  and  Samuel  Wilson,  the  packages  being  marked  E.  A. 
U.  S.  Samuel  Wilson  \vas  known  all  over  as  Uncle  Sam  and 
he  was  often  joked  about  his  amount  of  provisions,  then  the 
newspapers  took  it  up  and  the  term  Uncle  Sam  came  into 
general  use  and  is  typical  of  our  increasing  national  pros- 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  37 

perity.  Quite  recently  a  portrait  of  an  actual  personage  whose 
features  are  identical  with  those  made  familiar  by  caricatures 
of  Uncle  Sam,  was  found  in  possession  of  a  family  near  To- 
ledo, Ohio.  The  portrait  was  painted  about  1818,  but  nothing  is 
Known  of  the  shrewd,  kindly  old  man  represented.  His  face 
was  undoubtedly  the  origin  of  the  accepted  caricature. 

BROTHER  JONATHAN. 

Jonathan  Trumbull,  governor  of  Connecticut,  was  a  warm 
friend  of  General  Washington,  who  had  great  confidence  in 
his  judgment. 

When  in  need  of  ammunition  and  the  question  arose  as  to 
where  they  could  get  the  necessary  means  for  defense  Wash- 
ington said:  "We  will  consult  Brother  Jonathan." 

After  that  whenever  they  needed  help  the  expression  became 
a  common  one  and  naturally  came  to  mean  the  United  States 
Government. 

,    THE  AMERICAN  EAGLE. 

Our  bald  headed  eagle,  so  called  because  the  feathers  on 
the  top  of  the  head  are  white,  was  named  the  Washington  eagle 
by  Audubon.  Like  Washington  it  Avas  brave  and  fearless,  and 
as  his  name  and  greatness  is  known  the  world  over,  so  the 
greatest  of  birds  can  soar  to  the  heights  beyond  all  others. 

In  1785  it  became  the  emblem  of  the  United  States. 

It  is  used  on  the  tips  of  flag  staffs,  on  coins,  on  the  United 
States  seals,  and  on  the  shield  of  liberty. 


38  THE    STORY    OF   OUR    FLAG: 

BANNERS  AND  STANDARDS. 

It  is  not  generally  known  that  the  tassels  which  are  pend- 
ent customarily  from  the  upper  part  of  banners  and  standards, 
and  the  fringe  which  surrounds  them  are  relics  of  the  practice 
of  observing  sacred  emblems.  They  originated  in  pagan  devices 
and  the  garments  of  priests  and  were  consecrated  to  specific 
forms  of  worship. 

Sacred  history  is  full  of  instances  of  the  consecration  of  tas- 
sels and  peculiar  fringes  to  special  sacerdotal  uses.  Blue  was 
early  the  emblem  of  purity  and  innocence  and  that  fact  ac- 
counts for  the  predominance  of  that  color  in  the  ecclesiastical 
badges  of  these  early  times.  When  the  use  of  the  tassels  passed 
into  profane  customs,  they  were  used  as  ornaments  for  national 
standards  and  for  royal  girdles,  and  it  was  not  infrequent  that 
they  were  first  blessed  by  the  priests.  It  has  followed  naturally 
that  this  use  has  continued  up  to  the  present  time,  although 
now  it  is  retained  probably  because  of  the  artistic  effect  of  the 
swinging  pendants. 

THE  LINCOLN  FLAG. 
Presented  by  the  French  People. 

The  flag  in  the  White  House  which  formerly  hung  in  the 
center  of  the  largest  window  in  the  east  room,  has  a  unique 
history. 

It  is  woven  of  silk  in  one  piece  without  a  seam.     There  are 

gold  stars  in  the  field  and  among  them  are  seen  the  words  in 

French,  "Popular   subscription  to  the  Republic  of  the  United 

States,  offered  in  memory  of  Abraham  Lincoln.     Lyons,  1865." 

STATE  FLAGS. 

As  the  colonies  had  their  flags  of  different  kinds  so  the  states 
one  by  one  adopted  special  flags  and  nearly  all  the  states  of 
the  Union  now  have  a  state  flag  or  regimental  color.  In  some 
states  this  emblem  is  established  by  law,  in  other  states  by  the 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  39 

military  .department  or  the  governor.  There  are  a  few  states 
in  which  this  special  flag  is  covered  with  particular  devices 
chosen  by  the  caprice  of  the  donor  or  the  officials  by  whom  the 
flag  was  authorized,  but  in  all  these  cases,  the  state  arms  form 
a  part  of  the  emblazonment.  There  is  a  general  feeling,  how- 
ever, that  these  special  states  flags  should  have  no  legal  recog- 
nition, and  that  the  only  flag  to  be  thus  recognized  should  be 
the  Stars  and  Stripes. 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  FLAG  OF  TRUCE. 

It  is  interesting  to  know  how  and  why  the  little  white  flag 
which  is  always  looked  upon  with  breathless  interest  in  the 
emergencies  that  call  it  forth,  first  came  to  be  used. 

When  carried  by  the  lone  soldier  on  horse  or  on  foot  be- 
tween the  armies  it  has  a  significance  that  is  always  respected, 
and  on  the  sea  the  hoisting  of  this  flag  at  the  ship's  mast  or 
the  carrying  of  the  flag  of  white  by  boat  to  the  enemy  stops 
the  firing  of  the  guns.  The  custom  originated  in  the  church  in 
the  tenth  or  eleventh  century. 

Curiously  enough  while  it  is  the  only  flag  that  is  to-day  used 
by  all  nations  of  the  earth  alike,  no  regularly  made  flag  of 
truce  is  found  in  the  flag  lockers  of  nations.  It  is  improvised 
when  the  emergency  arises  for  its  use.  In  the  late  war  with 
Spain,  such  flags  of  truce  as  were  used  were  made  of  blank- 
ets, sheets,  table  cloths.  It  is  a  flag  that  commands  the  ene- 
my's respect.  An  account  of  the  origin  of  the  flag  of  truce 
lately  published,  is  as  follows: 

"La  peace  et  la  treve  de  Dieu"  (The  peace  and  the  truce  of 
God)  was  an  agreement  between  the  turbulent  barons  and  the 
church,  as  severe  injury  and  loss  was  most  frequently  the  re- 
sult of  the  private  warfares  which  constantly  raged. 

To  protect  itself,  but  more  especially  to  preserve  justice  and 
moral  order,  the  church  established  a  system  which  has  exer- 
cised a  beneficent  influence  down  to  this  day. 


40  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

The  agreement  stipulated  a  cessation  of  hostilities  on  certain 
festivities  and  saint's  days,  and  from  Saturday  to  Monday.  The 
barons  and  warrior  class  pledged  during  the  time  of  war  to 
extend  full  protection  to  women,  pilgrims,  priests,  monks,  travel- 
ers, merchants  and  agriculturists;  to  abstain  from  the  destruc- 
tion or  injury  of  farm  implements,  the  burning  of  crops,  and 
the  killing  of  live  stock  of  the  peasants.  Penalties  in  violation 
of  this  agreement  comprised  money  fines,  bafHings,  banishment, 
and  excommunication. 

Originating  in  the  south  of  France  this  system  was  soon 
adopted  through  the  whole  of  France,  Italy,  Spain,  Germany, 
and  England,  and  in  1095  Pope  Urban  II.  proclaimed  its  uni- 
versal extension  throughout  Christendom. 

In  time  the  Crown  assumed  this  protective  power,  and  the 
phrase  was  changed  to  "La  paix  et  la  treve  du  Roi,"  or  "The 
peace  and  truce  of  the  king."  The  republics  recognized  the  time- 
honored  institution,  and  the  simple  unfolding  of  a  white  cloth 
will  instantly  cause  a  cessation  of  hostilities.  The  adoption  of 
a  white  emblem  appears  to  be  lost  in  tradition,  as  authorities 
do  not  reveal  it.  Doubtless  it  is  similar,  or  may  have  arisen 
through  a  belief  in  the  white  Samite  which  shielded  the  Holy 
Grail  from  the  gaze  of  unbelievers.  Emblematic  of  purity,  as- 
sociated with  the  mythical  knights  of  the  Round  Table,  and 
used  in  the  Crusades,  it  is  probable  that  this  sacred  truce  flag 
may  have  originated  from  the  Samite  of  the  Holy  Grail. 

At  the  present  time,  if  presented  during  an  engagement  fir- 
ing is  not  required  to  cease;  nor,  if  the  bearer  be  killed  or 
wounded,  is  there  ground  for  complaint.  The  truce  emblem  can 
be  retained  if  admitted,  during  an  engagement.  Penalties  are 
incurred  if  the  truce  emblem  be  wrongfully  used,  the  severest 
being  the  ignominious  death  of  a  spy. 


COLONIAL   AND   NATIONAL.  4* 

The  following  was  written  at  the  tomb  of  Washington  in 
1833  by  Dr.  Andrew  Reed,  English  philanthropist: 

WASHINGTON. 

The  Brave,  The  Wise.  The  Good. 

Supreme  in  War,  in  Council  and  in  Peace. 

WASHINGTON. 

Valiant  Discreet  Confident 

without  without  without 

Ambition.  Fear.  Presumption. 

WASHINGTON. 
In  Disaster  Calm.         In  Success  Moderate.         In  All  Himself. 

WASHINGTON. 
The  Hero.  The  Patriot.  The  Christian. 

The  Father  of  Nations,  the  friend  of  Mankind 

who 
When  he  had  won  all  renounced  all 

and  sought 
In  the  Bosom  of  his  family  and  of  Nature 

Retirement 

And  in  the  hope  of  Religion 
Immortality. 


p 

id. 

i      * ' 


JANE  CLAYPOOLB  CANBY, 
Fourth  Daughter  of  Betsy  Ross. 


COLONIAL  AND   NATIONAL  43 


SKETCH  OF  BETSY  ROSS  AND  HER  HUSBANDS. 

Elizabeth  Griscom,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rebecka 
(James)  Griscom  of  Philadelphia,  was  born  January  i,  1752. 
They  were  ''Friends"  and  the  young  Elizabeth  grew  into  a 
most  charming,  bright  and  beautiful  girl  of  prepossessing  man- 
ners and  plain  and  quiet  tastes. 

Her  father  was  a  noted  builder  and  assisted  in  the  erection 
of  the  state  house,  now  Independence  Hall.  His  house,  shop 
and  a  very  large  garden  were  on  Arch  street,  between  3d  and 
4th  streets. 

Elizabeth,  or  Betsy,  as  she  was  fondly  called,  was  the  sev- 
enth daughter.  Her  birthday  was  the  first  day  under  the  new 
Gregorian  calendar. 

It  was  frequently  said  by  the  family  that  "she  was  born  the 
first  day  of  the  month,  the  first  day  of  the  year,  the  first 
day  of  the  new  style."  She  was  well  trained  by  her  mother,  be- 
came very  expert  with  her  needle  and  was  very  fond  of  em- 
broidery. 

Among  her  many  admirers  was  John  Ross,  son  of  JEneas 
Ross,  assistant  rector  of  Christ  Episcopal  Church.  The  young 
man  was  a  nephew  of  the  Hon.  George  Ross,  delegate  to  Con- 
gress, one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

In  December,  1773,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  Eliza- 
beth married  John  Ross,  an  estimable  young  man.  He  was  an 
Episcopalian,  and  in  consequence  of  her  marrying  out  of  meet- 
ing, she  was  disowned  by  the  Friends. 

The  first  husband  of  Betsy  Ross  was  of  distinguished  ances- 
try. The  Hon.  George  Ross,  of  New  Castle,  Delaware,  had  by  his 
first  wife,  two  sons:  John,  who  died  May  5th,  1776;  and  Rev. 
/Eneas,  born  Sept.  gth,  1716,  who  was  father  of  John  Ross  (hus- 
band of  Betsy  Ross). 


44  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

By  his  second  wife  he  had  Hon.  George  Ross,  signer  of  Dec- 
laration of  Independence,  born  1730,  died  1780;  also  one  daugh- 
ter, Gertrude,  who  married  George  Read,  also  a  signer  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence;  also  a  son,  Jacob,  a  physician. 

The  Hon.  George  Ross  was  a  noted  lawyer,  and  a  resident 
of  Lancaster.  He  was  a  brave  soldier  and  a  man  of  ability. 

John  Ross  was  an  apprentice  with  a  man  named  Webster, 
an  upholsterer  on  Chestnut  street.  It  was  with  him  that  John  and 
afterwards  Betsy,  learned  the  trade  before  they  ''ran  off"  to 
be  married. 

They  then  set  up  business  for  themselves,  first  on  Chestnut 
street  and  afterwards  moved  to  the  little  house  on  Arch  street, 
which  was  a  simple  building  when  first  occupied  by  them.  It 
was  built  some  time  after  1752,  notwithstanding  romantic  stories 
to  the  contrary.  The  first  room  was  utilized  as  a  shop;  the  store 
front  not  having  been  added  until  about  1858. 

It  was  in  this  house  that  the  flag  was  made  later  on. 

In  1775  John  Ross  was  injured  while  guarding  military  stores 
on  the  wharf,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  died  at  this  house 
in  January,  1776.  He  was  buried  in  Christ  Churchyard,  5th 
and  Arch  streets.  He  left  no  children. 

Mrs.  Ross  continued  the  upholstery  business  and  the  manu- 
facture of  flags. 

Betsy  Ross  married  for  her  second  husband,  at  Old  Swedes 
Church,  Philadelphia,  Captain  Joseph  Ashburn,  June  15,  1777, 
and  to  them  were  born  two  daughters: 

Jillah,  born  September  I5th,  1779.     Died  young. 

Eliza,  born  February  25th,  1781.  Who  married  Capt.  Isaack 
Silliman,  May  29th,  1799.  After  Capt.  Silliman's  death  in  the 
army,  his  wife  Eliza  lived  with  her  mother,  Betsy  Ross,  until 
her  death  in  1836. 

To  them  were  born  four  children: 

Joseph  Ashburn;  Emilia;  Jane;  Willys. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  45 

Emilia  left  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Mary  Sidney  Garrett,  a  widow 
and  childless.  She  is  the  only  living  descendant  of  the  second 
marriage. 

Joseph  Ashburn  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  British  on  the 
sea,  and  with  the  other  soldiers  was  taken  to  England  where 
he  died  in  Mill  Prison,  March  3d,  1782.  The  prisoners  were  all 
given  an  opportunity  to  enter  the  British  service,  and  on  their 
refusal  were  thrown  into  prison.  John  Claypole,  a  comrade, 
and  also  a  prisoner  of  war,  nursed  and  cared  for  Ashburn  un- 
til he  died.  He  brought  home  to  his  widow,  on  his  release,  the 
diary  of  Ashburn,  together  with  messages  to  his  wife,  with 
whom  he  fell  in  love  and  afterward  married. 

John  Claypoole,  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Claypoole,  of 
Philadelphia,  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Ashburn  (Betsy  Ross) 
the  8th  of  May,  1783,  at  Christ  Church.  His  ancestor  was  James 
Claypoole,  who  came  to  America  as  the  friend  of  William  Penn ; 
and  from  whom  all. the  Claypooles  mentioned  are  descended. 
He  was  a  brother  of  Sir  John  Claypoole,  who  married  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Oliver  Cromwell. 

The  children  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Claypoole  were:  Clar- 
issa Sidney,  born  April  3,  1785,  9  a.  m. ;  Susanna,  born  Novem- 
ber 15,  1786,  4  p.  m. ;  Rachel,  born  February  i,  1789,  7  p.  m. ; 
Jane,  born  November,i3,  1793,  7  p.  m. ;  Harriet,  born  December 
20,  1795,  5  a.  m.,  died  October  8,  1796. 

There  is  an  old  Bible  over  a  hundred  years  old,  which  has 
a  record  of  all  these  births  and  those  of  the  Ashburn  daughters; 
and  of  the  deaths  in  the  handwriting  of  John  Claypoole.  It 
was  "The  legacy  of  Sarah  Hallowell  to  her  niece.  Elizabeth  Clay- 
poole," that  is,  Betsy  Ross. 

John  Claypoole  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Germantown 
wThich,  with  imprisonment  and  the  hardships  of  war,  so  impaired 
his  health  that  he  never  regained  it.  So  it  may  be  truthfully 
said  that  the  lives  of  her  three  husbands  were  sacrificed  to  their 


46  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

country,  and  her  experience  in  these  very  important  events  in 
her  life  is  certainly  heroic.  John  Claypoole  died  August  3, 
1817. 

Betsy  Ross  attended  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  with  her 
first  husband  and  after  his  death  continued  in  attendance  until 
the  Free  Quaker  Society  was  organized  in  1793.  The  pew  in 
which  she  sat  was  quite  near  one  occupied  by  Gen.  Washing- 
ton, and  is  marked  by  a  brass  plate  bearing  these  words: 

"In  this  pew  worshipped  Betsey  Ross,  who  made  the  first 
flag." 

All  Friends  who  took  part  in  the  Revolution  were  disowned 
by  "The  Society  of  Friends."  After  the  war,  they  organized  a 
society  of  "Free  Quakers"  often  called  "Fighting  Quakers." 

As  the  time  went  by,  nearly  all  were  taken  back  into  the 
original  "Society  of  Friends,"  but  Clarissa  Wilson  and  John 
Price  Wetherell,  of  Philadelphia,  were  the  last  of  the  Free  Quak- 
ers. They  used  to  attend  the  little  meeting  house  at  5th  and 
Arch  streets  until  there  were  just  the  two  of  them.  In  the  fall 
of  1830  they  decided  it  was  unwise  to  have  the  little  meeting 
house  heated  for  them,  so  after  that  Clarissa  Wilson  attended 
the  Orange  street  meeting  house,  but  was  never  again  received 
into  the  original  society.  She  did  not  wish  to  be.  She  died  a 
Free  Quaker.  Betsy  Ross,  her  mother,  lived  to  be  84  years 
old  and  died  in  1836.  The  following  are  from  the  original  auto- 
graphs of  Betsy  Ross  and  her  husband : 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL. 


47 


CHILDREN   OF   JOHN    AND    BETSY  ROSS  CLAYPOQLE. 


Clarissa 
Sidney 

(Wilson) 

' 


Elizabeth  Griscom 

Sophia 

Aquila  Bolton 

Clarissa  Sidney 

Susan 

Rachel 


married  James  Campion 
"  Charles  Hildebrandt 
married  Sarah  Ghriskey 

"  James  Hanna 

'"  Abram  Sellers 

Jacob  Wilson  Albright 


James 
Edwin 

Susanna 

Abel 

(  Satterth- 
waite) 

Sidney 
Mary 

Susan 

bachelor 
married 


not  married 


Martha  Hallowell 
Mary  Burton 
Cyrus  Kinsey 


married 


(  This  couple 

T>     '  •  j   XT                        1  still  living  in 

David  Newport  J  i898at\vii- 

)  low  Grove, 

f  Philadelphia 


Rachel       I  Margaretta 


(1st,  Edward       J    Ma  TV 
Jones;  2nd,  John     I                 J. 
Fletcher)            (     Daniel 

Catharine 

Elizabeth 

Charles 

Jane 
(Canby) 

John 
William 
Caleb 

George 
Jane 
Mary 

married  —    Elliot 

"  Arthur  Wigert 

not  married;  died  at  21  yrs.  of  age 


married 

unmarried 

married 


Lloyd  Balderston 


Susanna  Kirk 
Elizabeth  Boustead 
Louise   Prescott 
Mary  Preswick 
Matilda  Goodwin 
Abel  Hopkins  {Jo£f 
Robert  Culin 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  49 

THE  OLD  KEY  MANSION. 

The  old  Key  mansion  is  one  of  the  historic  places  that  still 
remains  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac  in  Georgetown,  to  remind 
us  that  here  lived  Francis  Scott  Key,  the  author  of  the  national 
hymn  'The  Star  Spangled  Banner."  In  unveiling  to  him  the 
monument  which  had  been  erected  at  Fredericksburg,  Maryland, 
during  the  past  summer  (1898),  the  Hon.  Murat  Halsted  paid 
an  eloquent  tribute  to  this  poet,  who  crystallized  the  best  thought 
of  the  American  people  in  giving  to  them  "The  Star  Spangled 
Banner."  "O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave," 
this  flag  still  waves.  Freedom  to-day  has  a  broader  meaning 
than  in  the  days  of  iSizL.  Slavery  has  been  abolished  and  free- 
dom has  spread  her  wings  o'er  all  the  land.  The  history  of  the 
writing  of  this  beautiful  song  can  be  told  in  a  few  words.  It 
was  an  inspiration.  The  British  had  captured  a  friend  of  Francis 
Scott  Key,  Dr.  Beans,  and  when  Key  heard  of  it,  he  called 
upon  President  Madison,  who  furnished  him  with  a  vessel  to 
go  to  the  British  Admiral  Cockburn's  ship,  to  endeavor  to  se- 
cure his  release.  General  Ross,  of  the  British  army,  agreed  to 
release  him,  but  insisted  upon  Key's  remaining  on  the  admiral's 
ship  until  after  the  bombardment  of  Fort  McHenry,  which  was 
then. taking  place.  Key  was  intensely  anxious  and  in  the  early 
morning,  he  looked  across  to  the  fort  and  saw  that  "the  flag 
was  still  there."  It  is  said  that  he  then  wrote  a  sketch  of  the 
"Star  Spangled  Banner"  on  the  back  of  a  letter.  The  burn- 
ing of  the  capitol  and  of  the  White  House  a  few  days  previous 
by  them  are  well  known  matters  of  history.  A  few  days  after, 
the  British  fleet  sailed  for  Baltimore,  where  they  were  gallantly 
repulsed  with  the  loss  of  their  commander,  General  Ross. 
The  fleet  in  passing  Mount  Vernon,  lowered  their  flags  out  of 
respect  to  the  memory  of  the  immortal  Washington,  whose  re- 
mains are  here  entombed. 

4 


50  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

Key  was  born  in  Frederick  county,  Maryland,  August  I, 
1779.  He  graduated  at  St.  John's  College,  Annapolis,  Mary- 
land.   

THE    STAR-SPANGLED    BANNER. 

Oh,  say,  can  you  see  by  the  dawn's  early  light 

What  so  proudly  we  hailed  at  the  twilight's  last  gleaming, 
Whose  broad   stripes   and  bright   stars  through  the   perilous   fight, 

O'er  the  ramparts  we  watched  were  so  gallantly  streaming; 
And  the  rocket's  red  glare,  the  bombs  bursting  in  air, 
Gave  proof  through  the  night  that  our  flag  was  still  there! 
Oh,   say,  does  that  star-spangled  banner  yet  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the   free   and   the  home   of  the   brave. 

On  that  shore,  dimly  seen  through  the  mist  of  the  deep, 
Where  the  foe's  haughty  host  in  dread  silence  reposes, 

What   is   that   which   the   breeze    o'er   the    towering    steep, 
As  it  fitfully  blows,  now  conceals,  now  discloses? 

Now  it  catches  the  gleam  of  the  morning's  first  beam 

In  full  glory  reflected  now  shines  on  the  stream. 

'Tis  the  star-spangled  banner,  oh,  long  may  it  wave 

O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave. 

And  where  is  that  foe  which  so  vauntingly  swore, 

That  the  havoc  of  war  and  the  battle's  confusion, 
A  home  and  a  country  should  leave  us  no  more? 

Their  blood  has  washed  out  their  foul   footsteps'   pollution; 
No  refuge  could  save  the  hireling  and  slave 
From  the  terror  or  flight  or  the  gloom  of  the  grave. 
And  the  star-spangled  banner  in  triumph  doth  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave! 

Oh,  thus  be  it  ever,  when  freemen  shall  stand, 

Between  their  loved  homes  and  the  war's  desolation; 

Blest  with  vict'ry  and  peace,  may  the  heaven-rescued  land 
Praise  the  Power  that  hath  made  and  preserved  us  a  nation. 

Then  conquer  we  must  when  our  cause  it  is  just, 

And  this  be  our  motto,  "In  God  is  our  trust"; 

And  the  star-spangled  banner  in  triumph  shall  wave 

O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave. 

—Francis  Scott  Key,   1814. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  51 


INVOCATION    TO    THE    FLAG. 
Dedicated  to  the  D.  A.   R.'s. 

Our  own  dear  flag,  the  stripes  and  stars, 
In  peace  like  "bird  of  promise"  flying, 

When  War's  dread  battles  fiercely  wage, 
All  tyranny  and  wrong  defying. 

Legions  beneath  its  beckoning  folds, 

Start  at  the  sound  of  bugle  calling. 
Eager  to  lift  oppression's  yoke, 

From   fainting    brothers,   bravely   falling. 

Lead  on,  dear  flag,  our  heroes  true, 
O'er  mountain  pass  and  wild  savanna, 

Till  victories  by  their  prowess  won, 
Ring  a  new  nation's  glad  hozanna. 

Float  o'er  them  where  they  bravely  stand, 
The  bursting  shell  and  cannon  daring, 

And   glory  wreathe   their  chaplets   fair, 
Who  fall,  another's  burden  sharing. 

Wave  proudly  on,  where  hastening  ships 
Sweep  the  white  wave,  like  tempest  flying. 

Give  freedom  to  the  toiling  slave, 
Give  life  to   Cuba's  children  dying. 

Shine  on,  bright  stars,  glad  folds  unroll 

O'er  far-off  islands  care  beseeching, 
Lighten   old  Afric's   age   of  night, 

Give  aid   to   Asia's   millions  reaching. 

On  wings  of  dawn,  where  Orient  smiles, 

To  gates  of  sunset,  ocean  laving, 
Bear  light  and  hope,  while  earth  shall  hail, 
Our  flag,  for  right  and  freedom  waving. 
June    1 4th,    1898. 

CARRIE    P.    GUTHRIE. 


52  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 


UNFURL    THE    FLAG. 
By    Rev.    Artemas   Jean    Haynes,    Pastor    Plymouth    Church,    Chicago. 

Unfurl  the   flag!    the   flag  of  freedom's   birth — 

The  stainless  banner   of  our  loyal  host; 
Unfurl  the  flag!    proclaim  to  all  the  earth 

That  war  for  conquest  is  not  Freedom's  boast. 
Shake  out  the  crimson  folds  in  God's  great  strife — 
Our  country's  pledge  to  liberty  and  life. 

Unfurl  the  flag!    stand  forth  in  Christ's  own  name — 
For  God's  dread  day  of  Judgment  is  at  hand; 

Unfurl  the  flag!    and  smite  with  sudden  shame, 
Relentless  tyrants  from  our  sisterland. 

Each  waving  fold  of  white,  each   star  shall  bear 

Our  love  to  those  whose  griefs  we  seek  to  share. 

Unfurl  the  flag!  we  battle  not  for  gain — 
We  march  as  those  who  march  to  right  a  wrong; 

Unfurl  the  flag!  not  to  avenge  the  slain, 

Unfurl  it  for  the  weak  who  trust  the  strong: 

Fling  out  the  blue!    our  battle  flag  unfurled — 

Warfare  for  love,  and  freedom  for  the  world. 

Unfurl  the  flag!    red,  white  and  blue  wave  high- 
Wave  on  to  battle  every  loyal  son; 

Unfurl  the  flag!    hear  Thou,  O  God,  our  cry — 
Blaze  Thou  the  way  until  our  task  be  done; 

Until  the  night  falls  on  the  hosts  of  wrong, 

And  morning  breaks  to  Freedom's  triumph  song. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  53 


THE    AMERICAN    FLAG. 
By  Joseph  Rodman  Drake. 

When  Freedom  from  her  mountain  height 
Unfurled  her  standard  to  the  air, 

She  tore  the  azure  robe  of  night, 
And  set  the  stars  of  glory  there; 

She  mingled  with  its  glorious  dyes 

The   milky  baldric   of  the   skies, 

And   striped  its  pure  celestial  white 

With  streakings  of  the  morning's  light; 

Then  from  his   mansion   in   the   sun 

She  called  her  eagle-bearer  down, 

And  gave  into  his  mighty  hand 

The  symbol  of  her  chosen  land. 

Majestic  monarch  of  the  cloud! 

Who  rear'st  aloft  thy  regal  form, 
To   hear   the  tempest-trumpings  loud, 
And   see  the  lightning  lances   driven, 

When  strive  the  warriors  of  the  storm, 
And  rolls  the  thunder  drum  of  heaven — 
Child  of  the  sun!    to  thee  'tis  given 
To  guard  the  banner  of  the  free, 
To  hover  in  the  sulphur'us  smoke, 
To  ward  away  the  battle-stroke, 
And  bid  its  blendings  shine  afar, 
Like  rainbow's  on  the  cloud   of  war, 
The  harbingers  of  victory. 

Flag  of  the  brave,  thy  fclds  shall  fly 
The  sign  of  hope  and  triumph  high, 
When  speaks  the  signal  trumpet  tone, 
And  the  long  line  comes  gleaming  on; 
And  yet  the  life  blood,  warm  and  wet, 
Has    dimmed   the   glistening  bayonet, 


54  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 


Each  soldier's  eye  shall  brightly  turn, 
To  where  thy  sky-born  glories  burn; 
And,    as   his    springing    steps    advance. 
Catch   war   and   vengeance   from   the   glance; 
And   when   the  cannon-mouthings  loud. 
Heave  in  wild  wreaths  the  battle-shroud. 
And  gory  sabers  rise  and  fall. 
Like  shoots  of  flame  on  midnight's  pall. 
There  shall  thy  meteor  glances  glow, 

And  cowering  foes  shall  sink  beneath 
Each   gallant  arm  that  strikes  below 

That  lovely  messenger  of  death. 

Flag  of  the  seas,  on  ocean  wave, 
Thy  stars  shall  glitter  o'er  the  brave: 
When   Death,  careering  on    the   gale, 
Sweeps  darkly  round  the  bellied  sail. 
And  frighted  waves,   rush  wildly  back, 
Before  the  broadside's  reeling  rack. 
Each  dying  wanderer  of  the  sea 
Shall  look  at  once  to  heaven  and  thee, 
And  smile  to  see  thy  splendors  fly 
In  triumph  o'er  his  closing  eye. 

Flag  of  the  free  heart's  hope  and  home, 

By  angel  hands  to  valor  given! 
Thy  stars  have  lit  the  welkin  dome, 

And  all  thy  hues  were  born  in  heaven. 
Forever  float  that  standard  sheet! 

Where  breathes  the  foe  but  falls  before  us. 
With  Freedom's  soil  beneath  our  feet, 

And  Freedom's  banner  streaming  o'er  us! 

Fitz  Greene  Halleck  wrote  the  last  four  lines  of  this  poem. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  55 


BATTLE  HYMN   OF  THE  REPUBLIC. 

This  beautiful  song,  which  is  set  to  the  tune  of  "John  Brown," 
was  written  by  Julia  Ward  Howe  in  1861  just  after  her  escape 
from  a  rebel  raid  when  witnessing,  with  friends,  a  review  of 
troops  near  Washington.  In  her  dreams  she  was  inspired  by  the 
beautiful  thoughts  and  she  immediately  arose,  and  hastily  noted 
them  down. 

It  is  considered  one  of  the  grandest  battle  hymns  of  the  Re- 
public and  has  been  a  favorite  with  several  of  our  presidents. 

BATTLE    HYMN    OF    THE    REPUBLIC. 

Mine  eyes  have  seen  the  glory  of  the  coming  of  the  Lord! 
He  is  trampling  out  the  vintage  where  the  grapes  of  wrath  are  stored; 
He  hath  loosed  the  fateful  lightning  of  His  terrible,  swift  sword, 
His  truth  is  marching  on! 

I  have  seen  Him  in  the  watchfires  of  a  hundred  circling  camps, 
They  have  builded  Him  an  altar  in  the  evening  dews  and  damps; 
I  have  read  His  righteous  sentence  by  the  dim  and  flaring  lamps, 
His  day  is  marching  on! 

There  read  a  fiery  gospel  writ  in  burnished  rows  of  steel; 
"As  ye  deal  with  my  contemners,  so  with  you  my  grace  shall  deal! 
Let  the  Hero,  born  of  woman,  crush  the  serpent  with  His  heel, 
Since  God  is  marching  on! 

He  has  sounded  forth  the  trumpet  that  shall  never  call  retreat! 
He  is  sifting  out  the  hearts  of  men'  before   His  judgment   seat; 
Oh,  be  swift,  my  soul,  to  answer  Him!   be  jubilant,  my  feet, 
Our  God  is  marching  on. 

In  the  beauty  of  the  lilies  Christ  was  born  across  the  sea, 
With  a  glory  in  His  bosom  that  transfigures  you  and  me; 
As  He  died  to  make  men  holy,  let  us  die  to  make  men  free, 
While  God  is  marching  on. 


56  THE    STORY    OF   OUR    FLAG: 


CHICKAMAUGA. 

This  beautiful  poem  was  written  during  the  late  war  with 
Spain,  and  is  inserted  here,  as  entwined  among  the  lines  there  is 
a  sentiment  that  appeals  to  the  hearts  of  the  whole  people. 

CHICKAMAUGA. 

They  are  camped  on  Chickamauga! 

Once  again  the  white  tents  gleam 
On  that  field  where  vanished  heroes 

Sleep  the  sleep  that  knows  no  dream. 
There  are  shadows  all  about  them 

Of  the  ghostly  troops  to-day, 
But  they  light  the  common  campfire — 

Those  who  wore  the  blue  and  gray. 

Where  the  pines  of  Georgia  tower, 

Where  the  mountains  'kiss  the  sky, 
On  their  arms  the  nation's  warriors 

Wait  to  hear  the  battle  cry. 
Wait  together,  friends  and  brothers, 

And  the  heroes  'neath  their  feet 
Sleep  the  long  and  dreamless  slumber 

Where  the  flowers  are  blooming  sweet. 

Sentries,  pause,  yon  shadow  challenge! 

Rock-ribbed  Thomas  goes  that  way — 
He  who  fought  the  foes  unyielding 

In  that  awful  battle  fray. 
Yonder  pass  the  shades  of  heroes, 

And  they  follow  where   Bragg  leads 
Through  the  meadows  and  the  river, 

But  no  ghost  the  sentry  heeds. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  57 

Field  of  fame,  a  patriot  army 

Treads  thy  sacred  sod  to-day! 
And  they'll  fight  a  common  foeman, 

Those  who  wore  the  blue  and  gray, 
And  they'll  fight  for  common  country, 

And  they'll  charge   to   victory 
'Neath  the  folds  of  one  brave  banner — 

Starry  banner  of  the  free! 

They  are  camped  on  Chickamauga, 

Where  the   green  tents   of  the   dead 
Turn  the  soil  into  a  glory 

Where  a  nation's  heart  once  bled; 
But  they're  clasping  hands  together 

On  this  storied  field  of  strife — 
Brothers  brave  who  meet  to  battle 

In  the  freedom-war  of  life! 

— Baltimore   News. 


THE    STORY    OF   OUR    FLAG: 


THE  BON  HOMME  RICHARD  FLAG. 

This  historic  old  flag,  also  known  as  the  Paul  Jones  Flag, 
composed  of  thirteen  bars  and  but  twelve  stars,  was  unfurled 
by  him  and  borne  on  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  September  23, 
1776,  during  the  action  with  the  British  frigate,  the  "Serapis," 
and  is  probably  the  first  flag  bearing  the  stars  and  stripes  ever 
hoisted  over  an  American  vessel  of  war,  and  also  the  first  ever 
saluted  by  a  foreign  naval  power. 

This  flag  has  been  in  the  family  of  Mrs.  H.  R.  P.  Stafford, 
of  Cottage  City,  Martha's  Vineyard,  since  1784,  and  bequeathed 
by  her  to  the  National  Museum  at  Washington. 

But  it  must  be  remembered  that  Washington  adopted  the 
flag  made  by  Betsy  Ross  five  months  previous  to  this. 


"THE  OLD  THIRTEEN." 
A  Leaf  from  Illinois'  History. 

In  the  little  city  of  Shawneetown  which  is  next  in  age  to 
Kaskaskia,  and  consequently  the  second  oldest  town  in  the  State, 
there  reposes  a  relic  of  rare  value,  a  genuine  flag  of  Colonial 
days.  It  was  found  in  the  attic  of  the  "Posey"  building  and  is 
supposed  to  have  been  placed  there  by  General  Posey,  who 
served  under  Washington  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  flag 
is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Robinson,  an  eminent  scientist,  who  for 
a  life-time  has  taken  pains  to  collect  and  preserve  many  valua- 
ble things  for  Illinois'  posterity  to  see,  especially  rare  Indian 
curios  excavated  from  in  and  around  Shawneetown,  which  site 
was  once  the  pottery  of  the  Shawanee  Indians. 

The  old  flag  is  in  rather  a  good  state  of  preservation  although 
faded  and  marred.  Its  thirteen  stars  are  arranged  similar  to 
those  on  "Paul  Jones'  flag" — in  bars,  but  not  horizontal.  The 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  59 

rows  of  stars  are  placed  diagonally  and  consist  of  one,  three, 
five,  three  and  one,  which  leaves  a  star  in  each  corner  and  five 
forming  the  center  diagonal.  Illinois'  "Old  Thirteen"  has  been 
framed  and  covered  with  glass  to  preserve  it  from  the  ravages  of 
Time  and  to  save  it  for  the  eyes  of  the  children  of  coming  gen- 
erations. 


COLUMBIA,  THE  GEM  OF  THE  OCEAN. 

Columbia,  the  gem  of  the  ocean, 

The  home  of  the  brave  and  the  free; 
The  shrine  of  each  patriot's  devotion, 

A  world  offers  homage  to  thee; 
Thy  mandates  make  heroes  assemble; 

When  liberty's  form  stands  in  view; 
Thy  banners  make  tyranny  tremble, 

When  borne  by  the  red,  white  and  blue. 

Three  cheers  for  the  red,  white  and  blue, 
Three  cheers  for  the  red,  white  and  blue, 
Thy  mandates  make  tyranny  tremble, 
When  borne  by  the  red,  white  and  blue. 

This  song  sometimes  goes  by  the  title  of  The  Red,  White 
and  Blue.  It  was  written  and  composed  by  David  T.  Shaw  in 
1843;  later  on'  however,  it  was  rearranged  by  Thomas  a  Becket, 
Esq.,  an  Englishman. 


60  THE    STORY    OF   OUR    FLAG: 


HAIL  COLUMBIA. 

This  was  written  by  Hon.  Joseph  Hopkinson,  of  Philadelphia, 
at  the  request  of  a  young  friend — a  theatrical  singer  whose  ap- 
peal was  for  a  patriotic  song  suitable  for  the  times.  England 
and  France  were  quarrelkig  and  this  country  was  necessarily 
a  good  deal  agitated. 

It  was  set  to  the  music  called  The  President's  March,  which 
was  composed  by  Philip  Roth,  a  German,  for  Gen.  Washing- 
ton's inauguration  in  the  City  Hall  in  New  York.  A  great 
many  people  were  for  standing  by  our  ally,  France,  but  Gen. 
Washington  insisted  on  strict  neutrality ;  thus  the  song  was  re- 
quired to  voice  this  sentiment.  It  appealed  at  once  to  both  parties 
and  charmed  every  one  who  heard  it — was  sung  night  after 
night,  audiences  joining  in  the  chorus. 


''Hail  Columbia,  happy  land! 
Hail,  ye  heroes,  heaven-born  band; 
Who  fought  and  bled  in  freedom's  cause. 
Who  fought  and  bled  in  freedom's  cause. 
And  when  the  storm  of  war  was  gone 
Enjoyed  the  peace  your  valor  won; 
Let  independence  be  our  boast, 
Ever  mindful  what  it   cost, 
Ever  grateful  for  the  prize, 
Let  the  altar  reach  the  skies. 

Chorus — Firm,  united  let  us  be, 

Rallying  round  our  liberty; 
As  a  band  of  brothers  joined, 
Peace  and  safety  shall  we  find. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  6l 

"Immortal  patriot,  rise  once  more, 
Defend  your  rights,  defend  your  shore; 
Let  no  rude  foe  with  impious  hand, 
Let  no  rude  foe  with  impious  hand, 
Invade  the  shrine  where  sacred  lies 
Of  toil  and  blood  the  well-earned  prize, 
While  offering  peace,  sincere  and  just, 
In  heaven  we  place  our  manly  trust 
That  truth  and  justice  shall  prevail. 
And  every  scheme  of  bondage  fail." — Cho. 


DIXIE. 

Southrons,  hear  your  country  call  you! 
Up,  lest  worse  than  death  befall  you! 

To  arms!  to  arms!  to  arms  in  Dixie. 
Lo,  all  the  beaconfires  are  lighted, 
Let  all  hearts  be  now  united, 

To  arms!  to  arms!  to  arms  in  Dixie. 

Chorus — 

Advance  the  flag  of  Dixie! 
Hurrah!    Hurrah! 

For  Dixie's  land  we'll  take  our  stand, 
To  live  or  die  for  Dixie! 
To  arms!    To  arms! 
And  conquer  peace  for  Dixie! 
To  arms!    To  arms! 
And  conquer  peace  for  Dixie! 

Hear  the  northern  thunders  mutter! 
Northern  flags  in  south  wind  flutter! 

To  arms!  to  arms!  to  arms  in  Dixie! 
Send  them  back  your  fierce  defiance, 
Stamp  upon  the  cursed  alliance; 

To  arms!  to  arms!  to  arms  in  Dixie! 


62  THE    STORY    OF   OUR    FLAG: 

Fear  no  danger,  shun  no  labor, 
Lift  up  rifle,  pike  and  saber! 

To  arms!  to  arms!  to  arms  in  Dixie! 
Shoulder  pressing  close  to  shoulder, 
Let  the  odds  make  each  heart  bolder; 

To  arms!  to  arms!  to  arms  in  Dixie! 

Swear  upon  your  country's  altar 
Never  to  give  up  or  falter; 

To  arms!  to  arms!  to  arms  in  Dixie! 
Till  the  spoilers  are  defeated, 
Till  the  Lord's  work  is  completed, 

To  arms!  to  arms!  to  arms  in  Dixie! 

If  the  loved  ones  weep  in  sadness, 
Victory  soon  shall  bring  them  gladness, 

To  arms!  to  arms!  to  arms  in  Dixie! 
Exultant  pride  soon  banish  sorrow; 
Smiles  chase  tears  away  to-morrow; 

To  arms!  to  arms!  to  arms  in  Dixie! 

Chorus — 

Advance  the  flag  of  Dixie! 
Hurrah!    Hurrah! 

In  Dixie's  land  we'll  take  our  stand, 
To  live  or  die  for  Dixie! 
To  arms!    To  arms! 
And  conquer  peace  for  Dixie! 
To  arms!    To  arms! 
And  conquer  peace  for  Dixie! 

—[Albert  Pike. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  63 


TERRITORIAL  EXPANSION. 

Washington  took  the  oath  of  office  as  first  President  of  the 
United  States  on  the  steps  of  Federal  Hall  in  Wall  street,  New 
York  city,  April  30,  1789,  and  for  a  short  time  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment was  here  before  being  changed  to  Philadelphia. 

The  history  of  how  Alexander  Hamilton,  the  great  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  under  Washington,  made  the  trade  with  Jeffer- 
son whereby  the  present  site  of  the  capital  was  selected  is  in- 
teresting, as  showing  that  Hamilton,  while  constructing  a  pow- 
erful centralized-  government  with  skill  and  ability,  as  even  Jef- 
ferson's biographer  admits,  cared  little  about  the  location  of 
the  capital  itself.  The  Southern  States  wanted  it  on  the  Po- 
tomac; the  Middle  and  Eastern  States  wished  it  to  be  further 
north.  Hamilton  wanted  the  government  to  assume  the  State 
debts,  brought  about  by  the  war.  Jefferson  and  his  party  were 
opposed  to  it.  Hamilton  finally  secured  the  support  of  Jeffer- 
son and  his  friends  in  Congress  in  support  of  the  assumption, 
while  he  delivered  to  the  Jefferson  party  the  location  of  the 
capital  at  Washington.  In  after  years  this  was  a  source  of  great 
discomfort  to  Jefferson,  he  claiming  to  have  been  duped  by 
Hamilton. 

ACQUISITION  OF  TERRITORY. 
LOUISIANA. 

In  1800  Napoleon  forced  Spain  to  cede  Louisiana  back  to 
France,  after  thirty-seven  years  of  ownership.  The  idea  of  La- 
Salle,  who  had  looked  forward  to  establishing  here  a  new  France, 
was  long  since  forgotten,  but  Napoleon,  now  in  the  zenith  of 
his  power,  formed  the  brilliant  plan  of  colonizing  this  great 
country  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Rockies  and  from  the  Gulf 
to  the  British  possessions  in  the  North,  thereby  hemming  in 


64  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

the  United  States.  Napoleon  tried  to  subdue  the  Island  of 
San  Domingo,  with  the  idea  of  using  it  as  an  outside  base  of 
supplies,  but  his  troops  were  terribly  slaughtered  by  the  natives,, 
and  the  army  that  he  intended  to  send  to  Louisiana  never  came. 
About  this  time  Napoleon  was  busy  looking  after  England,  and 
as  after  events  proved  needed  all  of  his  troops  at  home.  He 
succeeded,  however,  in  creating  great  alarm  in  America.  The 
settlers  west  of  the  Alleghenies  were  especially  disturbed.  The 
Mississippi  was  practically  closed  for  navigation,  as  the  Span- 
iards, who  held  possession  of  New  Orleans,  would  not  allow 
them  to  bring  their  products  down  the  river  and  reship,  as  had 
long  been  the  custom. 

President  Jefferson  appointed  James  Monroe  and  Livingston, 
then  our  minister  at  Paris,  to  call  on  Napoleon,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, purchase  West  Florida  and  New  Orleans,  the  amount 
to  be  paid  not  to  exceed  $3,000,000. 

Napoleon  w7as  very  much  in  need  of  money  to  conduct  his 
war  against  England,  and  his  disastrous  attempt  to  subdue  the 
natives  of  San  Domingo  probably  made  him  decide  to  offer 
the  whole  of  Louisiana,  which  he  did  for  $15,000,000.  This 
great  purchase  was  consummated  by  Monroe  in  1803.  This 
was  the  greatest  act  of  Jefferson's  administration,  but  the  people 
bitterly  opposed  it,  claiming  that  we  had  no  use  for  the  addi- 
tional territory.  Napoleon  said  that  in  selling  Louisiana  to 
the  United  States  "he  had  placed  a  thorn  where  England  would 
some  day  feel  it."  The  acquisition  of  Louisiana  more  than 
doubled  the  area  of  the  United  States,  which  was  827,844  square 
miles,  increasing  it  to  1,999,775  square  miles.  It  constitutes 
about  ten  of  our  largest  States  to-day. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  65 

FLORIDA. 

This  State,  with  all  its  old  traditions,  has  seen  many  vicissi- 
tudes. It  belonged  to  Spain  from  1565  until  1763,  nearly  one 
hundred  years,  when  Great  Britain  traded  Cuba  for  it.  In 
1781,  the  British  were  expelled  by  Spain  and  that  country  again 
assumed  possession  of  Florida.  In  a  very  few  years  the  in- 
ability which  Spain  has  ever  shown  to  properly  govern  her  Co- 
lonial possessions  was  manifest.  A  war  broke  out  between  the 
Spaniards  and  the  Seminole  Indians  of  Florida  and  soon  the 
whole  State  was  in  a  condition  of  virtual  anarchy.  Embold- 
ened by  their  successes  in  warfare,  the  Indians  molested  the  fron- 
tier of  Georgia.  The  Government  of  the  United  States  then 
took  an  action  which  constituted  a  precedent  for  its  action  in 
invading  Cuba  in  the  late  war  with  Spain.  It  despatched  a  mili- 
tary force  into  Florida  under  command  of  General  Andrew 
Jackson.  He  virtually  took  possession  of  Florida  and  speedily 
restored  order.  His  conduct  excited  much  debate  in  Congress 
and  in  the  Cabinet,  a  strong  anti-expansion  sentiment  develop- 
ing. The  matter  was  finally  settled  by  purchasing  Florida  from 
Spain  for  $5,000,000.  This  was  done  in  1819.  Emigration 
poured  into  the  territory  from  the  States  further  north  and  soon 
the  value  of  Florida  as  an  acquisition  to  the  country  became  evi- 
dent and  the  anti-expansion  sentiment  died  away.  In  1845 
Florida  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State.  In  1861  it 
seceded  with  other  Southern  States  and  returned  again  to  the 
Union  in  1868. 

It  may  be  pertinent  right  here  to  say  that  when  the  United 
States  buys  or  comes  into  possession  of  a  tract  of  land  it  be- 
comes the  property  of  the  country  and  is  called  a  Territory, 
and  under  the  Constitution  it  is  so  treated,  without  representa- 
tion in  Congress  until  such  time  as  it  is  admitted  into  the  Union 
and  becomes  one  of  the  United  States. 
5 


66  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 


TEXAS. 

This  great  Territory  comprising  370,472  square  miles  origi- 
nally belonged  to  Mexico.  In  1820  Moses  Austin,  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  obtained  a  grant  of  land  and  threw  it  open  to 
settlement  by  people  from  the  United  States,  mostly  the  South- 
ern States.  In  a  few  years  more  than  20,000  had  settled  there 
and  the  strong  Anglo-Saxon  spirit  of  liberty  began  to  rebel 
against  the  oppressive  Mexican  rule.  In  a  few  years  this  feel- 
ing burst  into  an  open  revolt.  Texans  met  and  declared  their 
independence  and  formed  a  Republic  and  placed  an  army  in 
the  field  under  Gen.  Sam.  Houston.  He  met  the  Mexicans  un- 
der Gen.  Santa  Anna  at  San  Jacinto  in  1836  and  gained  a  com- 
plete victory,  thus  achieving  the  independence  of  Texas.  Next 
year  Texas  applied  for  admission  into  the  Union  but  no  action 
was  taken  by  Congress  for  several  years.  Meantime  in  the  north 
a  strong  sentiment  had  developed  against  the  institution  of  slav- 
ery. The  subject  was  vigorously  agitated  in  the  pulpit,  in  lit- 
erature and  in  public.  The  Southern  people,  perceiving  the 
strength  of  the  opposition  to  their  favorite  institution,  deter- 
mined in  self  defense  to  acquire  more  territory  for  the  sake  of 
the  strength  additional  votes  would  give  them,  and  so  in  1844 
the  proposal  to  admit  Texas  came  up  in  Congress  in  earnest. 

No  concealment  of  the  underlying  purpose  was  made  by 
the  Southern  Congressmen  who  led  the  movement.  A  bitter 
struggle  followed  but  the  annexationists  prevailed  and  in  1845 
the  "Lone  Star  State,"  as  Texas  had  been  called,  was  added 
to  the  Union.  The  South  welcomed  the  new  comer  with  great 
demonstrations,  but  the  greetings  of  the  North  were  not  cor- 
dial, for  in  that  section  it  was  clearly  understood  that  a  great 
extension  was  given  to  slave  territory. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  67 


NEW  MEXICO  AND  ARIZONA. 

The  vast  territory  included  in  these  two  Territories  was  ac- 
quired mostly  from  Mexico  in  1848  as  one  of  the  terms  of  the 
treaty  of  peace  between  the  United  States  and  that  country  made 
after  the  war  of  1846-47.  The  war  with  Mexico  was  brought 
about  by  the  refusal  of  the  Mexican  Government  to  concede  the 
claims  of  Texas  to  land  between  the  Rio  Grande  and  the  Nueces 
Rivers.  The  actual  rights  in  the  case  were  somewhat  obscure, 
but  war  was  eagerly  undertaken  by  the  Southern  people,  who 
believed  that  a  further  extension  of  slave  territory  would  be  the 
ultimate  result.  The  North  was  less  enthusiastic,  for  this  rea- 
son, but  sent  a  quota  of  troops  into  the  field  before  whose  valor, 
directed  by  commanding  officers  who  later  became  prominent 
in  the  great  war  of  the  Rebellion,  the  Mexican  armies  were 
defeated.  The  United  States  paid  Mexico  $15,000,000  for  the 
territory  ceded  under  the  treaty  and  in  addition  paid  $3,500,000 
in  settlement  of  the  claims  of  private  individuals.  The  bound- 
ary line  remained  in  dispute  for  five  years  more,  until  1853, 
when  James  Gadsden  negotiated  a  treaty  with  Mexico  settling 
all  questions.  Under  its  terms  the  United  States  gained  the 
Mesilla  Valley,  forming  the  southern  part  of  what  is  now  New 
Mexico  and  Arizona,  and  comprising  20,000,000  acres.  The 
United  States  paid  Mexico  $10,000,000  for  this  land  which  was 
afterwards  known  as  the  Gadsden  purchase  and  is  so  marked 
on  the  larger  maps  issued  by  the  Interior  Department  at  Wash- 
ington. Including  the  territory  acquired  by  the  Mexican  war, 
the  State  of  Texas  and  that  included  in  the  Gadsden  purchase, 
the  whole  area  is  sufficient  to  make  one  hundred  and  seventy 
States  the  size  of  Connecticut. 


68  THE    STORY    OF   OUR    FLAG: 

CALIFORNIA. 

This  great  State  was  ceded  to  us  by  Mexico,  being  part  of 
that  country  before  the  war.  In  1848  gold  was  discovered  by 
Capt.  Sutter  in  a  river  near  Sacramento.  On  examination  gold 
was  found  to  occur  in  abundance.  News  of  the  wonderful 
discovery  drew  an  immense  emigration  into  California  from 
all  parts  of  the  world,  the  majority  of  those  traveling  across 
the  plains  by  the  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  being,  of  course, 
from  the  United  States.  The  people  who  poured  into  the  golden 
State  lost  no  time  in  applying  for  admission  into  the  Union. 
In  1849,  one  Year  a^ter  Sutter's  discovery,  the  State  presented 
itself  at  the  door  of  Congress.  In  1850  California  was  admitted. 
The  celerity  of  the  operation  was  due  to  the  fact  the  North 
recognized,  that  California  would  offset  to  an  extent  the  growth 
of  slave  territory  actually  made  by  the  admission  of  Texas  and 
threatened  in  Arizona  and  New  Mexico,  areas  peculiarly  adapted 
by  climate  and  other  conditions  to  the  institution  of  slavery. 

Oregon,  Washington  and  Idaho  were  part  of  what  was  called 
the  great  Oregon  country.  They  were  acquired  under  an  agree- 
ment with  Great  Britain  in  1846.  The  United  States  claimed 
the  territory  up  to  the  parallel  of  54°  49',  but  a  compromise 
was  made  and  the  49th  parallel  accepted  as  the  dividing  line 
between  the  United  States  and  the  British  possessions.  The 
country  north  of  the  line  is  now  known  as  British  Columbia. 

ALASKA. 

Alaska,  whose  area  is  equal  to  about  120  States  the  size  of 
Connecticut,  became  the  property  of  the  United  States  in  1867 
by  purchase  from  Russia.  The  sum  paid  for  it  was  $7,000,000. 
The  purchase,  negotiated  by  Secretary  of  State  Seward,  was  de- 
nounced by  many  as  an  extravagant  use  of  public  funds  be- 
cause Alaska  appeared  to  be  practically  worthless.  The  Gov- 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  69 

ernment,  however,  unheeding  the  kind  of  criticism  paid  $200,000 
in  addition  to  the  first  price  named  to  extinguish  the  rights  of 
various  commercial  companies  and  thus  acquired  a  clear  title. 
It  was  soon  found  the  supposed  ice  bound  land  was  full  of 
wealth  in  fisheries  and  lumber,  the  income  from  seal  fisheries 
alone  amounting  in  one  year  to  $2,500,000.  Alaska's  wealth  in 
gold  was,  however,  not  suspected  until  recent  years  and  not 
demonstrated  until  the  summer  of  1896,  when  the  now  famous 
treasure  ship  arrived  in  San  Francisco  having  on  board  over 
$600,000  in  gold,  the  property  of  50  prospectors  who  had  washed 
it  out  of  the  bars  of  the  creeks  emptying  into  the  Yukon  river. 
Alaska,  the  "ice  bound,  inhospitable  desert  of  the  north,"  as 
it  was  designated  in  1868,  was  a  Mecca  for  the  world  for  the 
next  few  months  and  thousands  braved  the  dangers  of  Chil- 
koot  pass  to  search  for  the  yellow  metal,  and  at  this  time  it  is 
estimated  over  50,000  people  are  in  that  part  of  the  Territory 
which  two  years  ago  was  practically  uninhabited. 

GENERAL  GRANT  ON  EXPANSION. 

President  Grant  in  his  second  inaugural  address,  March  4, 
1873,  thus  expressed  himself:  "I  do  not  share  in  the  appre- 
hension held  by  many  as  to  the  danger  of  governments  becom- 
ing weakened  and  destroyed  by  reason  of  their  extension  of  ter- 
ritory. Commerce,  education  and  rapid  transit  of  thought  and 
matter  by  telegraph  and  steam  have  changed  all  this.  Rather, 
I  believe  that  our  Great  Maker  is  preparing  the  world,  in  his 
own  good  way  to  become  one  nation,  speaking  one  language, 
and  when  armies  and  navies  will  no  longer  be  required." 

HAWAII,   CUBA,   PORTO   RICO,   AND     THE  PHILIPPINES. 
These  great  and  interesting  acquisitions  to  our  territory  have 
not  yet  entered  the  blue  field  of  our  flag.     To  a  great  nation 
and  to  a  humane  people  they  will  look  for  that  protection  which 


70  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

has  been  pledged  to  them;  and  if  it  is  decided  that  these  people 
shall  live  under  our  starry  flag,  no  one  can  look  back  over  its 
history  and  doubt  the  strength  and  breadth  of  its  folds. 

THE  SOCIETY   OF   THE   CINCINNATI. 

This  historic  and  patriotic  order  was  named  after  the  famous 
Roman  Dictator  and  Patriot,  Cincinnatus,  and  was  founded  in 
May,  1783,  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  by  the  American  and 
French  officers  who  had  gathered  there  at  the  close  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war. 

The  resolution  adopted  at  the  forming  of  the  society  con- 
tained these  words:  "To  perpetuate,  therefore,  as  well  the  re- 
membrance of  this  vast  event  as  the  mutual  friendships  which 
have  been  formed,  of  common  danger,  and,  in  many  instances, 
cemented  by  the  blood  of  the  parties,  the  officers  of  the  Ameri- 
can Army  do  hereby,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  associate, 
constitute  and  combine  themselves  into  one  society  of  friends 
to  endure  as  long  as  they  shall  endure,  or  any  of  their  eldest 
male  posterity,  and  in  failure  thereof  the  collateral  branches  who 
may  be  judged  worthy  of  becoming  its  supporters  and  defend- 
ers." 

Owing  to  the  great  distances  between  the  different  States, 
and  the  fact  that  at  that  time  the  means  of  transportation  were 
slow  and  uncertain,  it  was  deemed  best  to  form  societies  in 
each  of  the  thirteen  States.  This  was  done.  One  was  also 
organized  in  France  under  the  patronage  of  Louis  XVI. 

The  original  members  included  the  names  of  Washington, 
Greene,  Hamilton,  Lafayette,  Rochambeau,  and  Paul  Jones; 
in  fact,  all  the  historic  military  and  naval  characters  of  the  Revo- 
lution. Among  the  honorary  members  elected  for  their  own 
lives  only  were  the  names  of  many  signers  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence. 

On  the  pages   of  the  country's  history   appears   no  darker 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  7* 

spot  than  that  placed  there  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
in  its  failure  to  give  its  soldiers  the  promised  half  pay  for  their 
services,  forcing  them  to  leave  their  homes  and  emigrate  to 
the  wild  lands  west  of  the  Alleghenies,  which  were  given  to 
them  in  lieu  of  money.  On  this  account  several  of  the  orders 
in  the  different  States  went  out  of  existence. 

The  patriotic  societies  of  the  country,  the  names  of  which 
are  given  here,  were  all  formed  for  the  purpose  of  perpetuating 
the  memory  of  events  and  of  the  men  who  in  military,  naval 
and  civil  positions  of  high  trust  and  responsibility,  "kept  step 
to  the  music  of  the  Union." 

The  preservation  of  historical  records  and  manuscripts  and 
the  promoting  of  fraternal  intercourse  among  their  members  are 
the  main  inspirations  of  all  of  these  patriotic  societies: 

Society  of  Colonial  Wars. 

Sons  of  the  Revolution. 

Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 

Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States. 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Sons  of  Veterans  U.  S.  A. 

There  are  three  great  patriotic  societies,  organized  by  the 
women  of  America,  known  as  the  Daughters  of  the  Revolution, 
Colonial  Dames,  and  the  Mayflower,  that  may  outstrip  all  other 
societies  in  the  value  and  importance  of  their  work. 


THE   STORY   OF  OUR    FLAG: 


DATES    OF    ADMISSION    OF   THE   STATES. 


Delaware,  Dec.  7,  1787. 
Pennsylvania,  Dec.  12,   1787. 
New  Jersey,  Dec.  18,  1787. 
Georgia,  Jan.   2,    1788. 
Connecticut,  Jan.  9,  1788. 
Massachusetts,  Feb.  6,  1788. 
Maryland,  April  28,  1788. 
South  Carolina,  May  23,  1788. 
New  Hampshire,  June  21,  1788. 
Virginia,  June  25,  1788. 
New  York,  July  26,  1788. 
North  Carolina,  Nov.  21,  1789. 
Rhode  Island,   May  29,   1790. 
Vermont,  March  4,  1791. 
Kentucky,  June  I,  1792. 
Tennessee,  June  I,   1796. 
Ohio,  Feb.   19,  1803. 
Louisiana,  April  30,  1812. 
Indiana,  Dec.  n,  1816. 
Mississippi,  Dec.  10,  1817. 
Illinois,  Dec.  3,  1818. 
Alabama,    Dec.    14,   1819. 
Maine,  March  15,  1820. 


Missouri,  Aug.  10,  1821. 
Arkansas,  June  15,  1836. 
Michigan,  Jan.  26,   1837. 
Florida,  March  3,  1845. 
Texas,  Sept.  29,  1845. 
Iowa,  Dec.  28,  1846. 
Wisconsin,  May  29,  1848. 
California,    Sept.   9,    1850. 
Minnesota,  May  n,  1858. 
Oregon,  Feb.  14,  1859. 
Kansas,  Jan.  29,   1861. 
West  Virginia,  June  19,  1863. 
Nevada,  Oct.  31,  1864. 
Nebraska,  March  I,  1867. 
Colorado,  Aug.   i,  1876. 
North  Dakota  and 
South  Dakota,  Nov.  2,  1889. 
Montana,  Nov.  8,  1889. 
Washington,   Nov.   n,   1889. 
Idaho,  July  3,  1890. 
Wyoming,  July  10,  1890. 
Utah,    1894. 


DATES   OF  ORGANIZATION. 


Arizona,  Feb.  24,  1863. 
Alaska,  July  27,  1868. 
Indian  Territory,  June  30,  1834. 


Oklahoma,   April  22,    1889. 
District  of  Columbia,  March  3,  1791. 
New  Mexico,  Sept.  9,  1850. 


Commodore  Perry  carried  our  flag  in  1854  into  the  harbors 
of  Japan,  and  the  first  commercial  treaty  with  that  nation  was 
made  by  and  with  the  United  States. 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  75 

SAVE    THE    OLD    FLAG    HOUSE. 
THE  HOME  OF  BETSY  ROSS. 

The  objects  of  the  American  Flag  House  and  Betsy  Ross  Memorial 
Association  are  to  purchase  and  preserve  the  historic  building,  situated 
at  No.  239  Arch  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  which  the  first  flag  of  the 
United  States  of  America  was  made  by  Betsy  Ross  and  subsequently 
adopted  by  Congress,  June  I4th,  1777,  and  to  erect  a  national  memorial  in 
honor  of  this  illustrious  woman. 

All  loyal  American  hearts  will  .welcome  the  glad  tidings  that  active 
steps  have  been  taken  to  purchase  the  birthplace  of  the  Star  Spangled 
Banner,  and  under  the  auspices  of  the  American  Flag  House  and  Betsy 
Ross  Memorial  Association  shall  henceforth  be  preserved  as  a  lasting 
tribute  to  those  whose  heroism  resulted  in  establishing  that  freedom 
which  a  united  people  are  to-day  enjoying. 

Appreciating  the  importance  of  preserving  this  relic  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, a  number  of  patriotic  gentlemen  of  this  and  other  States  have  taken 
the  matter  in  hand,  thus  making  the  movement  national  in  its  scope. 

Numerous  attempts  have  been  made  in  the  past  to  remove  this  his- 
toric building  to  other  cities.  The  present  plans  provide  that  it  shall 
remain  in  Philadelphia,  where  it  rightfully  belongs,  there  to  be  held  in 
trust  for  the  nation. 

It  has  been  left  to  the  option  of  the  American  people  whether  the 
birthplace  of  their  national  emblem  shall  be  permitted  to  pass  into  ob- 
livion. 

This  landmark  should  be  the  mecca  and  shrine  of  the  whole  nation. 
It  was  associated  with  one  of  the  most  memorable  incidents  of  our  early 
history,  and  it  is  most  fitting  that  it  should  be  preserved  for  future  gen- 
erations. 

Like  "Independence  Hall,"  wherein  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  signed,  and  Faneuil  Hall,  the  cradle  of  liberty,  it  speaks  most  elo- 
quently of  the  men  and  women  to  whom  we  owe  our  freedom. 

While  we  honor  the  heroes  of  the  past,  let  us  not  forget  to  preserve 
the  mementoes  associated  with  them.  Such  relics  increase  in  value  as 
they  are  transmitted  from  one  generation  to  another  and  form  object  les- 
sons in  history. 

To  follow  our  flag  from  its  birth  until  to-day  would  be  to  write  a 
history  which  stands  absolutely  alone,  and  from  the  day  of  its  creation 


76  THE  STORY  OF  OUR  FLAG: 

to  the  present  time  it  has  never  trailed  in  the  dust,  being  the  only  ex- 
ception among  the  flags  of  the  world.  It  is  not  that  we  have  not  been 
called  upon  to  defend  it  and  the  underlying  principles  for  which  it  stands, 
for  to-day  as  we  celebrate  the  anniversaries  of  victories  on  land  and  sea 
we  cannot  but  recall,  with  mingled  pride  and  pleasure,  the  achievements 
won  under  its  glorious  folds,  and  when  our  patriots,  inspired  by  a  God- 
like devotion  to  flag  and  country,  performed  deeds  of  daring  that  mark 
their  efforts  as  the  most  signal  ever  accomplished  under  any  flag  by  any 
heroes  of  any  nation. 

With  all  these  glorious  deeds,  and  others  that  must  necessarily  follow, 
let  us  as  a  grateful,  patriotic  people  see  to  it  that  the  birthplace  of  our 
nation's  flag  be  preserved  as  a  holy  shrine. 

With  the  view  of  making  the  movement  a  popular  one,  arrangements 
have  been  made  to  have  all  Americans,  of  every  shade  of  religious  and 
political  opinion,  affiliate  alike,  and  by  their  participation  to  become  the 
preservers  of  the  birthplace  of  the  "Stars  and  Stripes." 

On  these  broad  principles  souvenir  certificates  of  membership  in  this 
Association  will  be  issued  at  a  nominal  price,  and  the  names  of  all  sub- 
scribers placed  on  the  roll  of  honor. 

Any  person  desiring  to  see  the  Old  Flag  House  saved  and  Betsy 
Ross  honored  may  become  a  member  of  the  "American  Flag  House  and 
Betsy  Ross  Memorial  Association"  upon  the  payment  of  10  cents,  for 
which  they  will  receive  a  beautiful  certificate  of  membership,  sixe  11x14, 
duly  signed  by  the  officers  of  the  Association,  and  bearing  the  seal  and 
certificate  number.  Upon  these  certificates  in  the  centre  is  artistically 
portrayed  the  room  in  which  Betsy  Ross  displayed  the  first  Stars  and 
Stripes  to  the  committee  appointed  by  Congress,  consisting  of  General 
Washington,  Robert  Morris  and  Hon.  George  Ross.  On  the  left  is  an 
exterior  picture  of  the  Old  Flag  House  as  it  stands  to-day,  while  on  the 
right  is  the  picture  of  the  grave  of  Betsy  Ross,  at  Mt.  Moriah  Cemetery. 

These  certificates  will  be  mailed  to  any  address  upon  the  receipt 
of  IDC. 

NOTICE. 

A  large  reproduction,  in  ten  colors,  size  22x28  inches,  of  the  original 
painting,  "Birth  of  Our  Nation's  Flag,"  by  Charles  H.  Weisgerber,  first 
exhibited  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition,  Chicago,  1893,  will  be 
presented  as  a  souvenir  to  any  person  forming  a  club  of  thirty  members, 
inclusive.  These  premium  pictures  will  not  be  for  sale,  and  when  the 
objects  of  the  Association  are  attained  the  plates  will  be  destroyed;  thus 


COLONIAL   AND    NATIONAL.  77 

they  will  become  a  valuable  family  heirloom.  For  upon  them  will  be 
engrossed  the  name  of  the  individual  forming  the  club,  as  follows: 

"Presented  to   of  

by  the  American  Flag  House  and  Betsy  Ross  Memorial  Association,  for 
aiding  in  the  preservation  of  the  Birthplace  of  our  Nation's  Flag,  and 
for  the  erection  of  a  National  Memorial  in  Honor  of  Betsy  Ross,  and 
stamped  with  the  seal  of  the  Association." 

The  picture  referred  to  above  is  an  exact  representation  of  the  room 
in  which  the  first  American  Flag  was  made  by  Betsy  Ross,  which  was 
subsequently  adopted  by   Congress,   June    14,   1777,   and  is  the  only  en- 
dorsed portrait  representation  of  Betsy  Ross  by  her  living  descendants. 
Address  all  communications  to 

JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  Secretary, 
Old  Flag  House,  239  Arch  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


RETURN  TO  the  circulation  desk  of  any 
University  of  California  Library 
or  to  the 

NORTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 
Bldg.  400,  Richmond  Field  Station 
University  of  California 
Richmond,  CA  94804-4698 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 
2-month  loans  may  be  renewed  by  calling 

(510)642-6753 
1-year  loans  may  be  recharged  by  bringing  books 

to  NRLF 
Renewals  and  recharges  may  be  made  4  days 

prior  to  due  date 

DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 


APR  14 1994 


Berkeley 


YD  06686 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


